BusinessWeek has done an analysis to determine the relatively abstract notion of which countries are the happiest.
As you go through the blurbs, it's revealing that one of my own personal “when I am king” theories is highly represented as a criterion for a happy society – free post-secondary education.
(Click through the arrows on the top right of the linked page to see the blurbs for all countries as well as some very nice pictures.)
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
(via Reddit)
Comments 4
Oops, just realised it won't let me direct link to the entry for Canada so you'll have to scroll through. (I hate when sites do that.)
Health care and education!
It'll be interesting to see what political change does to Bhutan?
heather mc
It'd be even more interesting to see what political change does to the United States! 😉 (I think they ranked #29 or something.)
This is the article related to this study which has the full list of happiest nations in order (scroll to the Appendix).