FINLAND: THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD ST HAPPIEST For the second year in COUNTRY a row, Finland ranks 1 as the happiest For the second year in a row, Finland is the country in the world happiest nation in the World Happiness Report, in the UN World which ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive Happiness Report. themselves to be. Some people are having trouble understanding this.
We cannot see why.* *Literally. We really can’t see anything in this weather. Joking aside, happiness does seem to come in many forms. Did you know? You don’t have to be According to studies, heavy all smiles to be happy. metal fans are happier than people listening to other genres of music. What is the World Happiness Report?
The UN World Happiness Report ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels.
People in each country are asked to rate their life on a 10-step ladder from the best possible to the worst possible life for them. CONFIDENCE IN QUALITY OF GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY
Although the World Happiness Report GDP HEALTHY measures subjective PER CAPITA LIFE EXPECTANCY happiness, the study also attempts to explain AVAILABLE FREEDOM TO each country’s score SOCIAL SUPPORT MAKE DECISIONS by referring to a range of factors. GENEROSITY ABSENCE OF IN SOCIETY CORRUPTION Why are Finns so happy? ST BEST Finland has the best GOVERNANCE governance in the world as IN THE measured by voter turnout, 1 WORLD legislative independence Finland has the best and the number of women governance in the world as measured by in Parliament. voter turnout, legislative independence and Finland is also the most the number of women in Parliament. stable nation in the world.
Source: The Legatum Prosperity Index 2017, Fund for Peace 2018 RD MOST In addition to the quality of TRANSPARENT governance and stability, COUNTRY Finland also ranks high in 3 transparency of government Finland is the 3rd most practices, and has well- transparent country in the world, with open distributed political power. business and government practices and well-distributed It is easy to have confidence in political power. government in Finland.
Source: U.S. News & World Report 2018, Transparency International 2018 RD LEAST Finns can trust the system CORRUPT and each other. 3 COUNTRY Finland is one of the least According to the corrupt countries in the world, Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Finland is and 85% of Finns agree or one of the least corrupt countries in the world, strongly agree that they can right after Denmark and trust most of their fellow New Zealand. citizens. That is the highest percentage in the EU.
Source: Transparency International 2018, Eurobarometer 471, 2018 ST MOST Finns truly have the freedom POLITICAL to make decisions. AND CIVIL 1 FREEDOM Finland ranks first among Finland ranks 1st among countries with the most countries with the most political and civil political and civil freedom. freedom. The index uses indicators such as Finns are also in the global top status of freedom, political rights and three when it comes to civil liberties. opportunities available to a nation’s citizens.
Source: Freedom House 2018, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018 Wealth and wellbeing play a RD GLOBAL part in Finns’ happiness. PROSPERITY Finland ranks high in prosperity when measuring 3 economic growth, quality of life Finland ranks third in and other related categories. the Global Prosperity Index, which measures wealth, economic growth, wellbeing, life Finland also comes out on top opportunities and quality of life, among when ranked according to other things. innovations and business environment.
Source: The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018, Bloomberg Innovation Index 2019 RD MOST Healthcare and income SOCIALLY security are guaranteed for JUST everyone in Finland. 3
Finland ranks as the 3rd This means a better chance at most socially just country in the EU, happiness for all. It is no measured according to poverty prevention, coincidence that Finland ranks equitable education, labour market access, as one of the most socially just health and other factors. countries in the world.
Source: Bertelsmann Stiftung 2017 FINLAND IS ALSO A HIGHLY EQUAL SOCIETY Gender equality is one of the TH GLOBAL core values of Finnish society. GENDER GAP REPORT Finland would not be one of 4 the most advanced – and Finland is one of the happiest – countries in the best countries in the world for gender world had it not been for its equality, according to the World Economic strong commitment to Forum’s Global Gender equality. Gap Report 2018.
Source: Global Gender Gap Report 2018 Women and men are equal – ST FOR TIME both at work and at home. DADS SPEND WITH CHILDREN Finland is the only country in 1 the developed world where Finland is the only fathers spend more time with country in the developed world school-aged children than where dads spend more time with mothers do. school-aged children than mothers do. Also, 80% of dads go on paid paternity leave.
Source: OECD 2018 Everyone gets an equal start in Finland. Finland is one of the fairest ND FAIREST countries in the world for COUNTRY FOR CHILDREN children. 2
To guarantee a more equal Finland ranks second when observing how start to life, every Finnish fair a country is for all children and their child is welcomed into the wellbeing. Each country is ranked by inequality world by a maternity package of income distribution; education; health; and containing clothing and life satisfaction. baby-care products.
Source: UNICEF 2016 An equal start for everyone ND BEST requires healthy and happy COUNTRY TO BE A MOTHER mothers. Finland offers free prenatal care for mothers and 2
nearly a year of paid UNICEF compiles statistics on the health maternity leave when the of mothers and children and uses them to child is born. produce rankings showing where mothers fare best and where they face the greatest Affordable child care makes it hardships. easy for mothers to combine work and family life.
Source: UNICEF 2016 Equality also means equal ST EDUCATION access to education. Education is free for everyone 1 from preschool to higher Finland ranks number education. This means that one in education out of 149 countries. The every Finn has a right to go to Legatum Prosperity Index measures access university tuition-free. to education; quality of education; and human capital. Everyone’s potential is utilised.
Source: Legatum Prosperity Index 2018 EVERYTHING JUST WORKS IN FINLAND Finland: The Happiest Country in the World.*
*Can be very subtle or invisible to the naked eye.