The 10 Happiest Countries

Once again, Panama leads the pack
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 27, 2015 4:43 PM CDT
The 10 Happiest Countries
In this photo provided by Maria Fisher, taken in August 2008, the beach at Marino Ballena National Park in southwest Costa Rica is seen.   (AP Photo/Maria Fisher)

US citizens who want a happier life may want to leave the country. The Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index has issued its second annual list of country rankings, looking at 145 countries and how their residents fare in various "well-being elements." Those elements: a sense of purpose, social relationships, financial security, a sense of community, and physical health. The rankings are based on the percentage of people in each country thriving in three or more of the areas. The top 10 countries:

  1. Panama (53%)
  2. Costa Rica (47.6%)

  1. Puerto Rico (45.8%)
  2. Switzerland (39.4%)
  3. Belize (38.9%)
  4. Chile (38.7%)
  5. Denmark (37%)
  6. Guatemala (36.3%)
  7. Austria (35.6%)
  8. Mexico (35.6%)
The US sits at No. 23. Click for the complete list, or check out last year's rankings. (More happiest countries stories.)

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