Canada Is Among The Top Three Happiest Countries On Earth

The Top Ten Happiest Countries

First Published Date: June 17, 2013 ADawnJournal.com

Canada ranks third spot on the OECD happiest developed countries 2013 list. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) looked at various criteria such as jobs, income, safety, environment and health among the developed countries to make its the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Better Life Index. Australia and Sweden stayed ahead of Canada on the list, ranking first and second. Here are the top ten happiest developed countries:

1. Australia

2. Sweden

3. Canada

4. Norway

5. Switzerland

6. United States

7. Denmark

8. The Netherlands

9. Iceland

10. United Kingdom

The world’s 12th largest economy Australia kept the # 1 title for third year. Both Australia and Canada are resource-rich countries that are reaping the benefits of increased demand from Asia. Australia’s top rank comes with a price, as Australians need to work longer hours and score poorly on work-life balance. More than 14% of Australian employees are working very long hours, which is well above the 9% OECD average.

Also, there is no clear-cut answer in terms of being happy. If you look at two other happiness indexes, such as The Happy Planet Index by the London-based New Economics Foundation and World Happiness Report by the United Nations, the pictures are very different there.