The world’s happiest countries in 2016 https://t.co/UjBpdArGzK pic.twitter.com/BjVyxvDh3u
— World Economic Forum (@wef) November 15, 2016
Wealth at what cost?
Many wealthier nations came noticeably further down the chart with the US at 13, Germany at 16 and the United Kingdom at 23.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and one of the report’s authors, believes this is significant.
“The message for the United States is clear. For a society that just chases money, we are chasing the wrong things. Our social fabric is deteriorating, social trust is deteriorating, faith in government is deteriorating.”
The report said: “When countries single-mindedly pursue individual objectives, such as economic development to the neglect of social and environmental objectives, the results can be highly adverse for human wellbeing, even dangerous for survival.”
Although Denmark ranked in third place in 2015, this is the third time the Scandinavian country has claimed the number one position.