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The U.N. has released a new list ranking countries in terms of happiness, based on Gallup polls taken from 2005-2011. The World Happiness Report is edited by economists John Helliwell, Richard Layard and Jeffrey Sachs.

Denmark is the happiest country in the world followed by Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland in the top 10. The United States ranks 11^th. “It is no accident that the happiest countries in the world tend to be high-income countries that also have a high degree of social equality, trust, and quality of governance,” says the report.

Singapore is the happiest country in Asia-Pacific after New Zealand and Austrlia. Singapore ranks 33^rd overall. Several countries in the Middle East rank higher: Israel is 14^th, United Arab Emirates 17^th (one place above the United Kingdom, which is 18^th), Saudi Arabia 26^th, Kuwait 29^th and Qatar 31^st.  Turkmenistan is 32^nd, one spot above Singapore. Japan is 44^th, Taiwan 46^th, Malaysia 51^st, Thailand 52^nd, South Korea 56^th, Vietnam 65^th, Hong Kong 67^th, Indonesia 83^rd, Philippines 103^rd, and China 112^th.  Pakistan is 85^th, India 94^th, Bangladesh 104th, Nepal 121^st, Sri Lanka 130^th and Aghanistan 131st. Continue reading →