Ireland is ranked inside the top 20 happiest countries in the world.
For all of our giving out, it seems that the Irish are reasonably happy with their lot in life as we’ve been ranked the 19th happiest country in the world.
The World Happiness Report 2016, compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), found that Ireland’s positive outlook remains despite some bleak economic circumstances.
We’re happier as a nation than the British (23rd), the French (32nd) and the Italians (50th).
Denmark has overtaken Switzerland as the happiest nation on the planet, with Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden making up the rest of the top ten.
Of 157 countries ranked, the United States were in 13th, with Madagascar, Tanzania, Liberia, Guinea, Rwanda, Benin,Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi at the bottom.
According to The Irish Times, the 2016 report said: “With respect to the post-2007 economic crisis, the best examples of happiness maintenance in the face of large external shocks are Ireland and especially Iceland.
“Both suffered decimation of their banking systems as extreme as anywhere, and yet have suffered incommensurately small happiness losses.
“In the Icelandic case, the post-shock recovery in life evaluations has been great enough to put Iceland third in the global rankings for 2013-2015.
“There is a continuing high degree of social support in both countries.
“The percentage of people who report that they have someone to count on in times of crisis is exceptionally high in Iceland and Ireland.”
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