Beginning in 2011, the United Nations began inviting member countries to participate in measuring the happiness of their populations based on such criteria as material wealth, freedom to make choices, social support, and corruption, as well as physical and emotional well-being. The result is the World Happiness Report, a 155-page document that seeks to chart life satisfaction around the world and raise awareness of happiness as a factor in making public policy.
Happiest Continent: North America
Least Happy: Sub-Saharan Africa
Scandinavian Countries in Top 5: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
Rank of United States: 17
Countries Ranked Happier Than United States: Canada, Iceland, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, New Zealand
Least Happy Country: Togo
Countries with Greatest Increase in Happiness Between 2005 and 2012: Angola, Zimbabwe, Albania, Ecuador, Moldova
Countries with Greatest Decrease in Happiness Between 2005 and 2012: Egypt, Greece, Myanmar, Jamaica, Botswana
