More and more people have come to believe that the success of a country should be judged by the happiness of its people. In March the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network published the 2023 version of its “World Happiness Report”. Occupying second place, the Danes are still among the happiest people in the world.

Hapiness of staff is essential for start-ups

2022 was a year of crises, including the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, worldwide inflation, and a range of local and global climate emergencies. This years’ World Happiness Report seems to indicate, that lives have been better where trust, benevolence, and supportive social connections have continued to thrive.

Trust and social cohesiveness makes us happy, and happiness is also good for business. For an innovation district like ours, the ability to attract and retain talent is central to start-ups that choose our district for their headquarters. The happiness of their staff can make or break the company”: Kristoffer Klebak, Head of secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.

Natives as well as immigrants polled

The happiness of countries is measured by six factors. GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy at birth, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption. The authors of the World Happiness Report polled a sample including native citizens and immigrants in each country.

Nordic countries heavily represented

Finland occupies the top spot, while Denmark remains in the 2nd spot. Iceland is 3rd, Israel is in 4th position, up five positions from last year. The 5th through 8th positions are filled by the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland. The top ten are rounded out by Luxembourg and New Zealand.

Consensus about methods for measuring happiness

There is now a growing consensus about how happiness should be measured. This consensus means that national happiness has the potential to become an operational objective for governments.