Five cities where the happiest people live. The happiest man in the world. The happiest peoples in the world according to international statistics

It has the most incredible scenery, clean rivers and free education. And the people are the most positive, smiling and friendly. Do you think this is a fairy tale? According to the UN, National Geographic has compiled a list of the ten happiest countries.

Sweden

Sweden is one of the Nordic countries where the level of satisfaction with life is very high. The secret of the people of this country is the Swedish tradition of fika, which means taking a break from work to drink coffee and discuss news and business with friends. This break lasts 15 minutes and is arranged every 2 hours. By the way, Sweden is one of the largest consumers of coffee.

Australia

Australia has very low levels of pollution and high levels of cohesion and sociability among local people. And it's all because of the love for barbecue. Australian parks often offer paid or free barbecues to socialize with friends and have fun. But if you don't have Australian friends, then the BBQ tour (BBQ and XXXX Brewery) is a great chance to make them. And visit breweries together and try Australian meat dishes.

New Zealand

How can you not be happy when you are surrounded by blue mountains, wild nature and such fabulous views? Low levels of pollution and the most diverse wildlife make the inhabitants of this country truly happy.

Netherlands

Residents of the Netherlands are highly physically active and love cycling. They are proud of their 30,000 km of bike paths for safe travel. Don't forget to rent a bike and hire a cycling guide when you're in Amsterdam.

Canada

One of the largest countries in the world is a true paradise for travelers. Residents of this country boast many beautiful national parks with rugged mountains and wide open spaces. Just look at these views - that's why they are so happy.

Finland

All worries and problems are instantly evaporated in a traditional Finnish sauna. Despite the country's small population of just 5.2 million people, Finland has 3.3 million saunas, located literally everywhere - from lakeshores to office buildings.

Norway

Norwegians are proud of the nature of their country and treat it very carefully. It is believed that climbing one of the highest mountains called Skala takes away all worries from a person. Almost anywhere in the country, wherever you want, you can pitch a tent and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Iceland

Volcanoes, wild beaches, hot springs and gorgeous views - this is what makes the inhabitants of this country happy. And how can you not forget about everything in the world, lying in the warm blue waters and contemplating such views.

Switzerland

A country with so many types of chocolate cannot, by definition, be unhappy. Residents here are all about a healthy lifestyle - they go skiing, kayaking and paragliding. That's why Switzerland has the lowest obesity rate.

Denmark

Denmark is considered the happiest country in the world. And for good reason, because education and healthcare are completely free. Residents are proud of their sense of cohesion: even if they don’t know you, this doesn’t mean they won’t invite you for a cup of tea.

Looking at the photo, you will understand why the lucky ones live here

1. Costa Rica
There is no army in this country, the average life expectancy here is 79.3 years, and the inhabitants are surrounded by such beautiful nature that it simply cannot help but lift your spirits.

Instead of a long five-month winter, you'll find beaches, rainforests, and great weather most of the time.

2. Norway
Norway has one of the highest levels of GDP per capita per year - about $54,947. Norwegians rank second in the world in terms of life satisfaction. 95% of residents say they are happy to have the freedom to choose how to arrange their lives.

According to the World Values ​​Survey, 74% of Norwegians believe that other people can be trusted. For example, in Russia this trust indicator is only 27%. What can I say?

Trusting people is wonderful, it’s good to live in a country where you can afford it.

3. Denmark
Denmark supports parents and young families by extending paid parental leave. Danish citizens receive free medical care, they have total gender equality in every area, cycling is common, and citizens have a sense of responsibility towards each other.

It seems to be a collection of unrelated factors. However, they mean a lot for people's well-being - equality, freedom and responsibility, physical activity and assistance from the state.

4. Vietnam
This rapidly developing country has become one of the most famous tourist destinations over the past 20 years. Vietnamese citizens are happy with what they have, and the overall level of satisfaction across the country is quite high.

Picturesque beaches, delicious food and friendly locals are just a small part of Vietnam's charms.

5. Canada
Canada has long life expectancy, high incomes and strong social networks.

Moreover, the education sector here is very developed.

6. Colombia
Colombia has a wonderfully diverse nature of several climatic zones: mountain climate and tropical forests, savanna and desert.

Colombian coffee will win your heart, and colorful national holidays will never let you get bored.

7. Netherlands
There are excellent working conditions and a high level of job security.

At the same time, the Dutch know how to find a balance between work and life, due to which their life satisfaction rate is quite high: it reaches 9 points according to Bloomberg.com.

8. Belize
Living surrounded by the world's largest barrier reef, leading a relaxed "Caribbean" lifestyle and enjoying a mild climate all year round - that's what awaits you in Belize.

In addition, several cultures coexist quite peacefully and harmoniously in this country.

9. Sweden
If you plan to start a business after moving, choose Sweden. According to Forbes, this Scandinavian country has a lot of freedom and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Startups are relatively cheap, and a high degree of interpersonal trust and a culture based on individualism only raise the level of happiness in the country. A paradise for entrepreneurs!

10. El Salvador
This country is overshadowed by the popular tourist destinations of Guatemala and Mexico, but its residents are quite happy with what they have.

El Salvador offers friendly neighbors, delicious food, and beautiful beaches that aren't crowded with tourists. People lead a relaxed life here, and the fact that El Salvador is not very popular among Americans and Europeans leaves good business opportunities.

You choose where to live, and most importantly, how. If you feel that you would like to try to be in another reality, in another country - why not?

This is an invaluable life experience, and the meaning of our life lies in acquiring diverse experience. Everyone chooses for themselves, as you know.

Gallup, an American public opinion research institute, conducted a study to find out which countries' citizens are the happiest.

The results of the survey were amazing because it was found that people living in the poorest countries feel the best.

The list of happiest countries was led by El Salvador, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Trinidad and Tobago.

What is the secret of Latin American happiness?

The happiest countries

Experts conducted a survey in 148 countries in order to understand in which countries citizens most often experience positive emotions. People were interviewed in person and by telephone, and Each respondent was asked five questions:

1. How much time do they spend relaxing?

2. Do they feel respected by others?

3. Do they often smile and have fun?

4. Do they do anything interesting in life?

5. Do they enjoy what they do and life in general?

In addition, the researchers were interested in the following question: do respondents feel respected by their colleagues, and did they learn something new the day before?

According to the data received, the happiest people on the planet are citizens of El Salvador, Panama and Paraguay. These three countries are completely happy. The top ten includes 7 Latin American countries. In addition to the above, these are Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

It is worth noting that Russia was not even included in the hundred happiest countries, taking one of the very last places (along with Iran and Algeria).

The happiest country in the world

However, despite the relatively small population and small size of the state, The standard of living here is relatively high. According to the study, the birth rate in the country is 20 people per 1000 (96th place among other countries), and the death rate is 4.5 people per 1000.

Mortality in Panama is almost the lowest (196th place in the ranking). The average life expectancy is impressive: among women - 74 years, among men - 80 years. In Panama, the vast majority of people live in cities - 73 percent.

The country makes money through the operation of the Panama Canal, and revenues also come from tourism, banking and insurance. Two thirds of the population work in these industries.

According to the UN, GDP per capita is about $12,000, which is very good for such a small country, whose production level is only 18 percent of annual GDP.

World analysts note that Panama is a country where people can be quite satisfied with their standard of living. UN experts believe that the standard of living of people in Panama can easily be compared with that in North America, that is, in the USA and Canada, only prices for goods and services among Latin Americans are several times lower.

For example, a meal in an upscale restaurant will cost about 50 US dollars, and the price of a taxi anywhere in the capital is 2 dollars.

The level of healthcare in the country, according to experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross, is also high. Hospitals and clinics boast modern equipment, and doctors are highly qualified, as is the key to this level of healthcare.

It is worth noting that almost all qualified doctors in Panama were trained in the United States.

Of course, experts noted that the country’s infrastructure and high quality of life were not the only factors that influenced the degree of happiness of citizens. The favorable climate played a significant role.

The temperature is almost throughout the year it stays at 25-28 degrees during the day. Panamanians will never see snow, and this is not surprising since they are located near the equator. Panama also has rainy and dry seasons.

In 2005, Panama was ranked first in a global index of the most comfortable countries in the world. Pensioners from different countries often come here for permanent residence, because the country has one of the most developed pension systems in the world.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons and International Living, The United States has included Panama in its list of the four best countries in the world to live in.

The happiest and most optimistic countries:

1. Panama - 85 percent;

2. Paraguay – 85;

3. El Salvador – 84;

4. Venezuela – 84;

5. Trinidad and Tobago – 83;

6. Thailand – 83;

7. Guatemala – 82;

8. Philippines – 82;

9. Ecuador – 81.

The most unhappy and pessimistic countries:

1. Madagascar – 54 percent;

2. Lithuania – 54;

3. Belarus – 53;

4. Serbia – 52;

5. Yemen – 52;

6. Georgia – 52;

7. Iraq – 50;

8. Armenia – 49;

9. Singapore - 46.

Despite the fact that El Salvador and Paraguay took second and third places in the Gallup rating, experts talk about a fairly low standard of living in these countries.

The urban population in these countries does not exceed 60 percent, and the economy is based on agriculture. The unemployment rate is higher than in Panama, but at the same time in these countries easier to find a job.

This is mainly labor in logging, cotton plantations and sugar cane plantations.

The average life expectancy in other Latin American countries is the same as in Panama. For men it is 73 years old, for women it is 79 years old. As for the level of healthcare, it leaves much to be desired.

For example, last year Paraguayan doctors sounded the alarm because the state faced an epidemic of yellow fever.

In 2012, the government appealed to the global community and international health organizations to provide 600,000 vaccines to prevent yellow fever.

Thus, the findings surprised researchers from Gallup, because it turned out that the happiest people live in poor countries in Latin America.

If the standard of living in Panama is comparable to developed European countries, then residents of countries such as El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago cannot boast of similar conditions.

Scientists explain this by the historically established mentality of these people, who see happiness not in material wealth. According to them, people in poor countries can receive joy from moral satisfaction, which is often inaccessible to citizens of developed countries.

The media gave an example of the attitude to life of two people: one of them is a successful businessman from Singapore, and the second is a poor woman who sells tea on the streets of Paraguay.

“We continue to work, but we don’t get the amount of money we deserve,” complains 33-year-old Singaporean Richard Lowe. “Wealth does not bring happiness, only problems. Life is too short, so there is no room for sadness,” said Maria Solis from Paraguay.

Singapore, Iraq and Armenia rounded out the list of the happiest countries. Maybe it’s true that it’s not the standard of living, but people’s attitude towards it that matters?

A recent study was conducted: in which country do the happiest people live? According to survey results, northern Europe turned out to be happier than southern Europe, and residents of the former USSR are more likely than others to feel unhappy.

The World Value Survey Foundation conducted a study aimed at identifying the countries where the happiest people on Earth live. To do this, a survey is conducted of people who answer two questions: “Do you think that, in general, you are very happy, fairly happy, not very happy or not at all happy?” and “Overall, how satisfied are you with your life today?”

The results revealed that the happiest people in the world live in Denmark. Moreover, every year there are more and more Danes satisfied with their lives. The Danes' "formula of happiness" is simple: low taxes and a high level of technical development. In addition, most citizens of the “happiest country in the world” are well educated.

But if you look below, it becomes clear that the Danish formula is not a recipe for happiness for everyone. Because Puerto Rico is in second place among the happiest countries. But if everything is more or less clear with Puerto Rico - this island belongs to the United States, then Colombia comes in third place. How this country, in which there is a civil war, in which there is a high level of crime, in which the majority of the population is as poor as a church mouse, got into the top three happiest is a mystery. All that remains is to blame the coca growing in these parts - there is no other explanation for Colombian happiness.

In fact, the list of the happiest countries contains many amazing moments that do not correspond to established stereotypes about this world. Thus, the second ten is opened by El Salvador, located between Austria and Malta. The United States is only in 16th place: people there are not much happier than the people of Guatemala. And the people of Venezuela, led by the resilient Hugo Chavez, are happier than the people of Finland.

The last country with a positive happiness index is Azerbaijan. The list of unfortunate countries opens with Macedonia. Of course, it is alarming to live in a country when another country wants to rename your country.

Russia in this list took 88th place out of 97 possible. We are less happy than the people of Rwanda, Pakistan and Ethiopia. By the way, last year Esquire magazine provided a list of new English words, where the word “Russian” among the British is actually an analogue of the word “depressive”. By the way, according to Russian polls, the citizens of our country are simply glowing with happiness. According to a survey by VTsIOM, which included the question of happiness, 77% of our fellow citizens consider themselves happy. Although there were some surprises here: residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg feel the worst, only 74% of them consider themselves happy people. Well, the happiest people in our country are the residents of the south, where 84% answered the question about happiness in the affirmative.

Researchers from the World Value Survey claim that the level of happiness around the world is only growing year after year, but are unable to explain this phenomenon. Interestingly, on average, after 40 years, men feel happier than women, although before this age, the weaker sex is the leader in happiness. It is also known that the older a person gets, the more often he considers himself happy. Can we conclude from this that it is men who become wiser with age?

Based on materials from Turist_ru.

What do Denmark, Costa Rica and Singapore have in common? Citizens of these countries live, as they say, like Christ in the bosom, believe in the highest meaning of life and enjoy every day - minimum stress and maximum joy.

Who is the happiest person in the world?
Maybe Alejandro Zuniga? A man of middle age and good health, a loving father, he enjoys company with people and knows that he has a few true friends on whom he can rely. He rarely sleeps less than seven hours a night, walks to work and eats six servings of vegetables and fruits almost every day. He works no more than 40 hours a week, loves his job and gets along with his colleagues. He devotes a few more hours a week to volunteering, and on weekends he goes to church and football. In a word, day after day he chooses happiness, which is greatly facilitated by the presence of like-minded people, as well as the green spaces and temperate climate of the Central Valley of Costa Rica.

Another possible candidate is Sidse Clemmensen. Together with her devoted life partner and three small children, she lives in a friendly commune - a housing association where families work together around the house and look after the children. Sidse is a sociologist, and with such a profession she has little time for rest. The whole family rides bicycles - to work, to school, to the store - a great way to stay in shape. Clemmensen pays high taxes on her modest salary, but she is provided with medical care, education for her children and, in the future, a pension. In her native Aalborg, Denmark, people are confident that the government will not leave them in trouble.

And finally, the third contender for the title of happiest person: Douglas Fu. A successful businessman, he drives a $750,000 BMW and lives in a ten million dollar house. Douglas has a wife and four children, who delight their parents with excellent grades. While still a schoolboy, he earned money for his studies and opened his own company, which eventually turned into an international company worth 59 million dollars.

Mr. Fu earned the respect of his subordinates, colleagues and all the surrounding residents. Success took a lot of effort, and Douglas is sure that he would hardly have been able to arrange such a life for himself anywhere outside of Singapore.

Zuniga, Clemmensen and Fu represent three different types of happiness. I will call them pleasure, determination, satisfaction with what has been achieved. In addition, each of our heroes lives in a country where this or that “local” happiness flourishes on fertile soil.

After talking with all three applicants and getting in touch with their native culture, we will try to reveal the secret: why are people the happiest in these parts of the planet? Look at Zuniga - like many Costa Ricans, he lives day after day to the fullest, and the atmosphere around him reduces stress and increases joy. Scientists call this type of happiness experienced happiness, or positive affect. Its level is measured very simply: respondents are asked how many times in the last 24 hours they smiled, laughed or felt joy. Zuniga's homeland is the happiest country not only in Latin America. Judging by surveys, Zuniga's compatriots experience more positive emotions in their daily lives than anyone else on the planet.
Clemmensen experienced the kind of happiness characteristic of determined Danes. As with other forms of happiness, the default assumption is that basic needs are satisfied so that people can do what they love at work and at leisure. This is eudaimonic happiness - the term comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “happiness, bliss.” The concept itself became widespread thanks to Aristotle, who believed that true happiness comes only from a life filled with meaning, a deed worth working for. When conducting research, Gallup asks respondents to remember what interesting things they learned or did yesterday. In Denmark, which has consistently ranked at the top of the rankings of the happiest countries in Europe for 40 years, people simply have an easy life. As for Mr Foo, with all his energy and many talents, he lives up to the reputation of Singaporeans as being known for their fanatical desire for success. Their happiness is “life satisfaction.” To determine its level, sociologists often ask respondents to rate their lives on a scale from zero to ten. This type of happiness is also called evaluative. All over the world it is considered a measure of well-being. In terms of life satisfaction, Singapore is a confident leader among Asian countries.

Columbia University researchers, commissioned by the UN to publish the annual World Happiness Report, found that three-quarters of a person’s happiness is determined by six factors: stability of economic growth, healthy life expectancy, quality of social relationships, generosity, trust and freedom. choose your own path. All these factors directly depend on the government of the country and its cultural values. In general, we can say that the happiest places on the planet cultivate the happiness of their inhabitants. Zuniga, Clemmensen and Fu work hard to achieve their goals - but not at the expense of joy and laughter - and are proud of what they are doing now and what they have already achieved. In many situations, their native land helps them - the country and the city, the street and the house. The ground under their feet and the people around give support, constantly encouraging them to do things that attract happiness.

COSTA RICA

MATTHEW PALEY In the middle of her workday, Maria del Carmen Chorsrecha Patterson (right) decided to take a break: from the restaurant she runs in Limon, she went to a nearby bar to dance to upbeat music. Costa Ricans always find time for little joys, family and friends.

Let's return to Alejandro Zuniga, a fruit and vegetable vendor at the central market in the city of Cartago, east of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. This 57-year-old big guy has been working here for many years. Whenever one of the six dozen other merchants falls ill or someone gets into trouble, it is Zuniga who collects financial aid. On weekends, he makes trips to football games to cheer on the city's favorite team, C.S. Cartaginés (team, alas, there aren’t enough stars in the sky, but that’s not the main thing). Zuniga is a charismatic person and a natural leader.

One evening his phone rang. “You won the lottery,” a friend’s voice came over the phone.

Zuniga, the caller said, had a lucky ticket: he was owed 50 million colones (about $93,000 at the time). But Alejandro did not believe his friend, a well-known fan of practical jokes: he had a difficult day behind him, and besides, the avocados were not sold. “I thought it was a sick joke,” he recalls. “I have eight dollars left in my pocket.”

In anger, he hung up.

The next day, when Zuniga arrived at work, he was greeted by a storm of applause. The news of the win spread throughout the area.

Feeling dizzy, Zuniga moved along the counters, shaking the hand of each merchant. Everyone knew: life had not been kind to him. He grew up in the slums, dropped out of school at the age of 12 to earn his own bread, had problems with alcohol, and at 20 the love of his life broke his heart: his beloved left him.

And now Zuniga suddenly became a millionaire, and his comrades mentally said goodbye to him, deciding that he would probably exchange them for a new, prosperous life. But week after week passed, and our hero slowly distributed the wealth that had fallen on him. A million colones to the friend from whom I bought that lucky ticket. A million to the owner of the diner, who fed him in times of famine. Another million to a beggar he knew at the market, and the rest to his mother and the four mothers of his seven children. Less than a year later, he was broke again. And it doesn’t matter to him. "I'm absolutely happy!" - Alejandro insists.

MATTHEW PALEY Only three students go to school in La Central, a farming village an hour's drive from Cartago. In the photo: the trio is having lunch in a cafe in the company of a teacher. The crucifix was moved here from the church during the eruption of the Turrialba volcano: it was believed that it would be safer here. Primary and secondary education is compulsory and free, and the country's literacy rate reaches 97.8%.

To understand its resilient nature, you need to know Costa Rica well, where geography and social policy have created a “cocktail of happiness.” Its components: a strong family, universal healthcare, faith in God, a peaceful sky above, equality and generosity. These ingredients make up a recipe: how to enjoy life day after day. This is the key to the first form of happiness - pleasure. Here in Costa Rica, this love potion of well-being produces more happiness per dollar of GDP than anywhere else in the world.

Let's try to understand Alejandro. He has neither a car, nor gold or diamonds, nor expensive equipment - but he does not need all this for happiness and self-esteem. He lives in a country where the last 100 years have passed under the sign of the support of every citizen. Most Central American states, after independence, were dominated by large landowners whose interests were looked after by presidents backed by the army - but Costa Rica took a different path.

MATTHEW PALEY Paramedic Ileana Alvarez-Chavez, as part of Costa Rica's government health program, came to 68-year-old lonely widow Mayela Orozco to measure the elderly woman's blood pressure and take tests. Over the course of a year, Alvarez-Chavez will visit every house in Paraiso. The emphasis on preventive medicine helped reduce infant mortality and increase life expectancy.

The inaccessible mountain ranges, riddled with gorges, did not contribute to the expansion of plantations. But international demand for coffee has played into the hands of small owners and freedom-loving farmers in the Central Valley. Residents of Costa Rica elected teachers to the presidency who were not burdened by colonial remnants - their policies launched a spiral of prosperity. In 1869, Costa Rica passed a law making primary education compulsory for all children—and, remarkably, for girls as well. By 1930, literacy rates were among the highest in Latin America. At the same time, the authorities took care of clean water in the villages, declaring war on deadly childhood diseases, as well as cholera and diarrhea. By 1961, national health care laws had been passed and free health posts appeared in most villages. Costa Rica remains true to its chosen course today. One winter morning, I asked to join paramedic Ileana Alvarez-Chavez as she made her rounds in the leafy Central Valley town of Paraiso. Ileana is an employee of the Basic Integrated Health Services (EBAIS), a national system created in the mid-1990s to support the health of Costa Ricans. Small teams - a doctor, a nurse, a receptionist and several paramedics - are tasked with caring for the health of about three and a half thousand people. The daily norm for Alvarez-Chavez is at least a dozen houses. She spends half an hour in each, because she needs to make an entry in the medical record, measure blood pressure, get vaccinated, give recommendations and make sure that the water does not stagnate anywhere (mosquitoes, carriers of the Zika virus, breed in stagnant water). Having visited 89-year-old Aurora Brenes, Ileana compiled an inventory of all her medications, measured her blood pressure and made an appointment for the old woman to see her team doctor. “Often I catch the disease before it develops into diabetes or a heart attack,” says Alvarez-Chavez. “Many of my patients are lonely people, and they are grateful just because someone is paying attention to them.”

Since 1970, life expectancy in Costa Rica has jumped from 66 years to 80, and infant mortality has dropped sevenfold. Compared to the United States, the death rate from heart disease among men is about a third lower, although per capita health care costs are ten times lower. As former President José María Figueres Olsen argued, Costa Rica's health care system works so well because health care is its top priority. “In the US, there are incentives to increase spending,” Figueres emphasized at the time. “And here for many years there has been an emphasis on preventive medicine, because, frankly, the goal of good health policy is one thing - to prevent people from getting sick.”

In short, Costa Rica's social system satisfies the basic needs of its citizens. A native of the area, Mariano Rojas, an economist and expert in the intricacies of happiness, a member of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Mexico City, speaks about this: “The social system gives them a sense of security, relatively good health and freedom from most of the main worries of life, creating an environment in which the majority people can earn their daily bread.”

DENMARK

COREY RICHARDS On a farm north of Copenhagen, schoolchildren pick vegetables they have grown themselves. All that remains is to cook and eat together - all this is provided for by the program, which teaches children to love and take care of nature. The Danes love such joint events.

Denmark also cares about the well-being of its citizens, and Sidse Clemmensen is just one of them. Set in her kitchen, this 35-year-old working mother—a young woman with short hair, a sleeveless blouse and Moroccan slippers—sips tea, a diamond sparkling in her nose.
“The state provides me with everything I need,” says Clemmensen. - The children are happy. I have a wonderful husband. And my favorite job. I know that nothing really terrible will happen to me.”

The Clemmensen family settled in Aalborg in a housing association - bofællesskab in Danish. Each of the 22 families owns a house, and the common area includes a huge garden, laundry, workshop, warehouse, parking and a dining room where you can share meals with everyone.

The housing association is a refined mixture of private and public in a truly Scandinavian spirit, an apt metaphor for the entire Danish society, where trust and partnership play an important role. According to Peter Gundelach, a sociologist at the University of Copenhagen, the evolution of Danish society goes back to the Second Schleswig War of 1864, when a quarter of the country's territory went to Prussia. “That defeat extinguished our desire to be a global superpower,” he says. “It pacified us.” The government began to strengthen our national identity - to build pillars from within.”

COREY RICHARDS A Cuban immigrant, infected by the Danes with a passion for communication, dances with his half-Danish daughter on the lawn near the beach in Copenhagen, a favorite meeting place for city residents. The Danes have always warmly welcomed visitors, although the recent migration crisis has somewhat cooled their enthusiasm.

From an early age, Danes are aware of their right to health care, education and financial protection. If a child appears in a family (including in a same-sex marriage), the parents have the right to go on maternity leave for a whole year and receive a state benefit in the amount of almost their full salary. In Denmark, people work hard, but on average less than 40 hours a week, and are on vacation for five weeks a year. The price of such generous social benefits is one of the highest income tax rates in the world. This universal equalizer allows a garbage collector to actually earn more than a doctor.

“The Danes' happiness is closely linked to their concept of tryghed - a feeling of security, like being curled up in bed with a blanket tucked in on all sides. It starts with a mother's love and ends with the relationship with government, says Jonathan Schwartz, an American anthropologist who lives and works in Copenhagen. “The system doesn’t guarantee happiness so much as it keeps people from doing things that will make them unhappy.” Another important component of Danish happiness is the ability to find time for self-realization. Over 90 percent of Danes are members of some kind of club or interest group - from cold water swimming to rabbit breeding - and more than 40 percent volunteer to join social organizations. “The Danes seem to be more aware than anyone else of the totality of human needs,” says Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a psychologist at Claremont Graduate University in California. “People need to be tested for strength. That's how we are made. By overcoming difficulties, we become more confident. This is what happiness is built on.”

SINGAPORE

MATTHEW PALEY To celebrate the end of training, soldiers stage a night march to the world's largest floating stage. Military service builds sense of purpose and unity, creating strong bonds among the country's major ethnic groups. The army is a symbol of security, so highly valued by the people of Singapore.

Singapore has found its own path to happiness. A striking example is Douglas Fu. Mr Foo runs Singapore's largest chain of quick-service sushi restaurants, Sakae Sushi, while still managing to find time to volunteer with 22 organisations. On a 14-hour day, he dons one of his tailored blue suits and presides over a dozen meetings. His signature style is a combination of refined ceremony, careful focus, determination and humor. His ability to defuse the situation with an unexpected burst of laughter, coupled with his tireless work ethic, has earned him at least all the external attributes of “success in Singapore.” He will tell you that he is happy, but deep down he feels that he has not yet conquered one of the peaks. At 48, Fu walks through life in the ranks of generations - between those who desperately fought for life in the 1960s and stood at the cradle of independent Singapore and today's 20-year-olds. In just over half a century, the country, located on a piece of land 49 kilometers long, has transformed from a fishing village into a state where 5.8 million citizens live among thousands of high-rise buildings and over one and a half hundred shopping centers - a metropolis lined with green streets. Success for Singaporeans lies at the end of a well-known path - follow the rules, go to a good school, find a good job, and you're done! In a society committed to equal opportunity, talent and hard work are always rewarded.

COREY RICHARDS Three family members are immersed in prayer over an urn containing the ashes of a deceased relative. They participate in a dramatic online ceremony, complete with laser show, in a luxurious columbarium. For many Singaporeans, wealth - and its glamorous display - is an important element in the formula for happiness.

Singaporeans may complain that prices are rising and they are spinning like squirrels at work, but almost everyone talks about a sense of security and trust in each other. The creator of this social experiment was the late Lee Kuan Yew, who led the Singapore independence movement in 1965. With deep respect for traditional Asian values, Lee set out to build a society based on harmony, respect and work. Everyone who took up work, even in the most modest field, could count on a decent income. Under the labor welfare program, low wages were offset by subsidies for housing and medical care. Although the bulk of the population consists of Chinese (74.3%), Malays (13.4%) and Indians (9.1%), Lee's government retained English as an intermediary language to ensure that no one nation could take over. myself. He guaranteed freedom of religion, equal education for all and provided subsidies for the purchase of real estate. As a result, Singaporeans today embody a third kind of happiness - what experts call life satisfaction. The score goes up if you live in accordance with your own values ​​and are proud of your achievements. You have achieved financial stability and high status and feel like you belong. Alas, the path to such happiness can last for many years, and often you have to pay for it with those small, momentary joys that our lives are so generous with.