People have some theories about this. I have some questions and some observations.

  1. This isn’t a defense of the U.S. being lower on this list, because as a matter of opinion, I believe it’s accurate, but what even is this anyway? How does one measure happiness? How does one make these rankings?
  2. The 2024 ranking has some common denominators that are suspicious.
  3. Israel is top 5 happiest places? A theocratic apartheid ethnostate that’s been colonizing its neighbor and committing a slow genocide over decades, escalated following last October? Talk about sadistic…
  4. Generally speaking, a healthy and happy population will have their basic human needs satisfied in some way – food, safety, shelter. There will be a sense of community – a sense of belonging. There will be a kind of care and empathy for each other that drives action to alleviate obstacles to basic human needs. There will be purpose people can put their skills and talents toward. There will be ample opportunity for all to contribute and put their skills and talents to work. Variations in humanity welcomed and understood instead of ostracized and ridiculed. The societies that are best at these things will most likely be the happiest. Countries that are filled with hate, violence, superiority, manufactured hierarchies, incarceration, poverty, homelessness, war, and so on, with high levels of exploitation, low feelings of belonging, and high feelings of powerlessness, will likely be less happy.