Nigerians happiest, Americans 16th

Survey says Russians, Eastern Europeans the unhappiest

LONDON, Oct. 1 — People in Latin America, Western Europe and North America are happier than their counterparts in Eastern Europe and Russia, according to a British study. An analysis of levels of happiness in more than 65 countries by the World Values Survey shows Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people followed by Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico, while Russia, Armenia and Romania have the fewest.
“NEW ZEALAND ranked 15 for overall satisfaction, the U.S. 16th, Australia 20th and Britain 24th — though Australia beats the other three for day-to-day happiness,” New Scientist magazine, which published the results, said on Wednesday.
But the weekly magazine said that factors that make people happy vary. Personal success, self-expression, pride, and a high sense of self-esteem are important in the United States.
“In Japan, on the other hand, it comes from fulfilling the expectations of your family, meeting your social responsibilities, self-discipline, cooperation and friendliness,” according to the magazine.
The survey is a worldwide investigation of sociocultural and political change conducted about every four years by an international network of social scientists. It includes questions about how happy people are and how satisfied they are with their lives.
It showed that average happiness has remained virtually the same in industrialized countries since World War Two, although incomes have risen.
The exception is Denmark, where people have become more satisfied with life over the last three decades.
Researchers believe the unchanging trend is linked to consumerism.
“Survey after survey has shown that the desire for material goods, which has increased hand in hand with average income, is a happiness suppressant,” the magazine added.

I'm moving to somewhere in Maine.

IceNine said:

Well, sporting the 'Edmund Fitzgerald' you'll be happy no matter where you live

applekisses said:

"Thar she blows!!!"

IceNine said: