Ifah SakinahFinland clinches the title of the world’s happiest country once again. This victory comes as no surprise to many, as the Nordic country has placed first in the United Nations World Happiness Report for four consecutive years.
Although Finland remains on the top spot, the World Happiness Report 2021 looks slightly different from previous years. With the world grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the report zeroes in on the widespread effects of the virus on the quality of people’s lives. Furthermore, the annual report analyses the efforts of governments around the world in tackling the global outbreak.
Also read: Taiwan Is The Happiest Country In Asia, According To Study
The World Happiness Report 2021
Using data compiled from the Gallup World Poll, the World Happiness Report drew an important conclusion: A country’s ability to cultivate a positive mindset in the face of extrinsic situations was a critical factor in accounting for collective happiness. Finland, along with a handful of Scandinavian countries, has always set the bar high in that regard.
“We appreciate the small things in our daily lives, such as sitting quietly on a bench and staring at the empty lake after a relaxing sauna session, or taking a morning dip in the sea before starting the working day,” Heli Jimenez, the Senior Director of International Marketing at Business Finland, explained in a press release.
Image credit: Ozgu Ozden
Aside from being the world’s happiest country, the European gem boasts of a dazzling array of landscapes with the power to stir awe and wonder in our minds. Think snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes, and national parks with beautiful water rapids. As a matter of fact, the air in Finland is heralded as one of the cleanest in the world. If you’re lucky enough, you can feast your eyes upon an entrancing light show, the Aurora Borealis. Or, you can get up close and personal with Santa Claus at his hometown of Rovaniemi.
10 Happiest countries in the world in 2021
To get a taste of what happiness looks like in Finland, be sure to add this destination to your post-pandemic bucket list for when travel resumes. Alternatively, you can explore the following other countries which have made it to the top ten spots below:
1. Finland
Image credit: Ethan Hu
2. Iceland
Image credit: Andrey Andreyev
3. Denmark
Image credit: Nick Karvounis
4. Switzerland
Image credit: Patrick Robert Doyle
5. Netherlands
Image credit: Adrien Olichon
6. Sweden
Image credit: Jon Flobrant
7. Germany
Image credit: Kai Pilger
8. Norway
Image credit: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen
9. New Zealand
Image credit: Ömer Faruk Bekdemir
10. Austria
Image credit: Joss Woodhead
