Launched in 2012, The World Happiness Report is the annual survey by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations and it looks at the state of global happiness in 156 countries. There are six ranking factors: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support and generosity.
This year’s results are in and Finland has won the title for the third year in a row. The report also ranked the happiest cities in the world for the first time this year and the winner has been named as the capital, Helsinki. It’s not a shock to us, Finnish society is focused on wellness and has been built in such a way that people are supported but still feel like they have control of their own lives. With around two million saunas in the country – a sauna for every 2.5 Finnish people - there’s little doubt that these egalitarian places of refuge play a key role in their health and social happiness.