08 Aug 2018
Planning an international move can be a big and stressful decision. There are all sorts of factors to take into consideration, like what you’ll do for a job, the cost of housing, and how your family will adjust to the move. What can make a huge difference, though, is knowing that the country you’re planning to move to is one of the happiest countries in the world.
Did you know that countries are actually ranked by happiness according to the World Happiness Report? This report takes many factors into consideration and studies in great detail the happiness of the countries included. One thing that the happiest countries all have in common, though, is that they all score very high on the following factors: trust, generosity, social support, freedom, income and healthy life expectancy.
If moving to one of the happiest countries in the world appeals to you, you should look into moving to one of the Nordic countries, as the top four spots are occupied by these countries. The top ten happiest countries in the world in order are: Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia.
Why are the Fins the happiest people in the world? Much of the reason comes down to how well Finland takes care of their people. The country is known for their quality healthcare system and generous employee benefits, such as five weeks of paid holiday, paid sick leave and exceptional maternity leave. Paternal leave is also encouraged, allowing Finnish dads to spend more time with their children than in other countries. Education is also free, allowing Finnish people to achieve well in their careers.
Norway comes in just behind Finland, with its own impressive track record for happy citizens. Last year, Norway was at the top of the list. Norway’s treasury is in a good position, as it is the 6th wealthiest nation in the world, and the economy is very strong. The healthy economy also goes a long way in making citizens feel like they have economic security, with excellent benefits, free education, and pensions even if you have never worked.
In third place is Denmark, which has also held the title in the past for the happiest country in the world. While Denmark benefits from the same strong economy and public benefits as the top two countries on the list, happiness is simply a part of the lifestyle in this Nordic country. You might be familiar with the hygge craze, but did you know that it originates in Denmark? Hygge is basically a way of life that encourages cosiness and closeness and places great importance on informal social interactions, such as family movie nights and friends gathering around the table for a home-cooked meal.
Each of the countries in the top ten spots offers an excellent standard of life for its inhabitants, thanks to high standards of healthcare, education and opportunities. If you’re planning an international move, it’s important to make sure that you move to a country where you know you will be happy and where you’ll have positive experiences. Moving to one of the top ten countries in the world could be just the way to achieve this.
If you have questions about planning an international move, get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a quote. You can also browse our moving guides for further information on moving abroad.
