Wednesday, 22/03/2017 18:16 (GMT+7)
Norway is officially the world’s happiest country, according to the 2017 World Happiness Report, released on March 20th.
Norway moved from No 4 to the top spot in the report's rankings, which combine economic, health and polling data compiled by economists that are averaged over three years from 2014 to 2016.
The rankings are also based on income and life expectancy figures, along with how people rate social support, personal freedom, corruption and generosity.
The US was 14th in the latest ranking, down from No 13 last year, and over the years Americans steadily have been rating themselves less happy. The UK is ranked 19th.
Jeffrey Sachs, the director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), said: “Happy countries are the ones that have a healthy balance of prosperity, as conventionally measured, and social capital, meaning a high degree of trust in a society, low inequality and confidence in government”./.
Compiled by BTA