The fourth edition of the World Happiness Report found Denmark is once again home to the happiest people on earth, while people in Burundi are the least happy.
Researchers found social support, incomes, and life expectancy to be the three most important factors in determining overall happiness. They also found that people are significantly happier living in societies where there is less inequality. This year, the top ten happiest countries are Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden—and here’s what they look like:
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Iceland
4. Norway
5. Finland
6. Canada
7. Netherlands
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10. Sweden
Nordic countries, which have strong social safety nets and free public services like education and healthcare, have consistently taken the top spots on the list. In fact, Denmark topped the first World Happiness Report, published in 2012, as well as the second report, published in 2013. Last year, Switzerland and Iceland topped the list, knocking Denmark down to third.
The report is produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a group of specialists convened by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and came out ahead of UN World Happiness day on March 20.