By: Kathryn Vance

Poll

hap·pi·ness

noun \ha-pē-nəs\

“Happiness” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a state of well-being and contentment, or a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” As we take a look all around us, people are often smiling and laughing and exhibiting other signs of apparent happiness. Of course there are low points for everyone, but most peers are happy at least once every single day, cracking even the smallest of smiles. But if this is so, why did the United States come in tenth on Forbes’ annual list of happiest countries in the world?

Landing first in the rankings for the third year in a row is Norway. One thing that this country has that sets it apart from the rest of the country is the outstanding per capita GDP of $54,000 per year. They also come into the polls with having a 95 percent satisfaction with their current lifestyle, saying that they are happy about their freedom, and 74 percent say that they think others can be trusted, a number that greatly out-does any other countries.

So what makes these countries “happier” than the others on the list, or even those who didn’t make the list at all? According to a Yahoo! article, all of the countries rounding out the top ten are electoral democracies. People tend to like where they live much more when they feel that they have a say in what goes on in their government. There are many civil liberties and rights for citizens of these countries, as well as an abundance of entrepreneurial opportunities. As can be seen in the U.S., there are jobs for different people with different skill levels all the time. While the unemployment rate is still at a high of 8.6 percent, there are new jobs arising every day.

Common among the countries listed as the unhappiest are lack of education, lack of healthcare, and high mortality rates. As an American, we are fortunate enough to have certain rights and privileges that often get taken for granted. While getting $20 for your birthday from your grandparents might seem like a common gesture for those of us in the U.S., it would not be so customary in a country like the Central African Republic where people have to live on about $2 a day.

As the holiday season nears closer and closer, think about giving back this year. Why not donate just one of those cards filled with money from a distant relative–who you probably barely know—to a charity in need of your help? For people living on $2 a day, even what might seem small to you, would mean the world to someone else. Try to not focus on the material things this year, and think of what truly brings you “happiness.”

To see the entire listing of the 20 happiest and saddest countries, see http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mef45ejmi/10-united-states/ .

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