The 2024 World Happiness Report results are in. Once again, the tiny nordic countries of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway all rank in the top 10. These countries are clearly doing something right. What’s their secret? And what can we learn from the nordic countries about happiness?
It’s fascinating to me to see these small countries top the World Happiness Report rankings year after year. At the same time, as I discussed yesterday on my personal blog, the world’s English-speaking countries continue to fall further down the happiness ranking, especially when it comes to the wellbeing of our young people.
In this year’s World Happiness Report, Finland ranked number one, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden in second, third and fourth place. Norway came in seventh place.
So, What’s Their Secret to Happiness?
As I took some time to ponder the reasons these countries top the happiness rankings year after year, I saw Cristiana’s Saturday post here on Wise & Shine. In Exploring Scandinavian Serenity: Hygge, and Fika, she discussed how these concepts embody the essence of mindfulness, relaxation and connection.
Is that their secret to happiness? These countries are all known for long, cold, dark winters, so we know the weather can’t be the source of their joy.
A little research into how the nordic countries differ from the rest of the world revealed a couple of nuggets.
First, these countries are known for strong social programs. They’re well ahead of the rest of the western world when it comes to pensions, parental leaves, unemployment benefits, and affordable healthcare and education.
Secondly, and likely closely linked to the first point, these countries have low levels of income inequality, although there are signs that could be changing. As I watch the widening gap between the haves and have-nots in our North American society, I have to think we can’t ignore this factor. It’s tough to feel happy when you’re struggling to make ends meet—especially when you see others who have so much.
The thing that struck me the most, though, was something I read in this article from Yahoo News in Australia. Nordic countries have high levels of trust and benevolence. Here in North America, increasing levels of skepticism and cynicism can really erode our happiness and mental wellbeing. Not to mention the divisions this causes between people.
Maybe it’s easy to trust when you feel confident your government—and your fellow citizens—have your best interests at heart. In nordic countries, government policies consistently put people first. That’s an increasingly foreign concept in our capitalistic “me first” society here in North America and many other western regions.
So, what can we learn from all this? Perhaps it’s time for every citizen of a country falling further down on the list to reflect on their personal values and how their governments and workplaces support those values. Maybe we all need to refuse to give in to consumerism and capitalistic values and get back to a simpler, more meaningful, existence as I wrote in my very first post here on Wise & Shine.
In the meantime, a little hygge and fika can’t hurt!
What do you think we can learn from the nordic countries? Drop me a comment below with your thoughts.
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