Happiness in Nations

Recently I have been doing some research on happiness in nations, so I have found some interesting info and I would like to share it. I will compare Lithuania as it is my home country with Japan and Bhutan.

Firstly, Lithuania according to most surveys I watched is neither in the top nor the bottom on the list of country happiness, it is just about in the middle of the center and the end of the list. Actually it is no surprise that Lithuania is not one of the happiest countries in the world, life expectancy is 66 for males and 78 for females, males life expectancy is the lowest in the European Union. With population of 3,2 million and GDP per capita 10605$, just an average European country, where people are happiest when they are young, when they do not have to care about the salary.

Secondly, Japan is totally different country from Lithuania, with different economy, culture, landscape and so on, but it’s only slightly happier that Lithuania, as surveys says. It is a real surprise, because this nation has strong sense of collective identity, which other researchers have associated with well-being. Although GDP per capita is amazingly 42325$ and life expectancy is 82.6 it is the highest in the world. People are not so happy, it is probably of the landscape, which is risky to live at, because a lot of earthquakes and tsunamis appears.

Thirdly, Bhutan is the country that I was never heard before I started this research and that is why it caught my eye, it was one of the top happiest countries. Money cannot buy happiness, with GDP per capita of only 1400$ and life expectancy only 55 years this small country is something extraordinary. Scientist thinks that happiness in this country is the result of unspoiled culture, unusually strong sense of national identity and beautiful scenery.

In the end, there are a lot of ways to become happy and Lithuania could learn from other countries, like Bhutan. My research also shows that money not always means happiness, there are many ways to improve it and I wish that Lithuanian people will become happier in the future.

References: http://www.physorg.com/news73321785.html
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2006/gb20061011_072596.htm
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/10/happiest_countries/index_01.htm
http://thehappinessshow.com/HappiestCountries.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Health
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy