The Happy Netherlands

The second UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) World Happiness report is out and the Netherlands fared well once more. Really well actually. The Dutch are the fourth happiest nation in the world, behind Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.

In order to assess just how happy people are across the world the report concentrates on six areas:

• real GDP per capita 
• healthy life expectancy 
• having someone to count on 
• perceived freedom to make life choices 
• freedom from corruption
• generosity

Measuring the well-being of citizens is starting to be seen as serious business in many countries. And there's a good reason for that. Happy people are more productive, healthier and live longer. I consider myself lucky to live in the Netherlands, and when reports like this are published it only reinforces how blessed we I am to raise a family here. 

The USA is placed at number 17 and United Kingdom comes in at 22. Togo sits bottom of the pile.  

Where does your country come in the list? Do you consider yourself lucky to live where you do? Are you happy there?

If you want to read the whole report you can do so here.