In a global ranking of happiness unveiled in New York on Thursday, Switzerland was deemed the happiest country in the world, closely followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada.
 
The 2015 World Happiness Report is the third annual report seeking to quantify happiness as a means of influencing government policy. The United Nations published the first study in 2012.
  
Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand and Australia round out the top ten in this year’s report, making small or medium-sized countries in Western Europe seven of the top ten happiest countries.

In 2015 World Happiness Report, academics identified the variables as real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption and generosity.
 
Read the full report: worldhappiness.report

Source: Based on article published by www.thelocal.dk
Photo: T.Hjamo/VisitDenmark.com