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Denmark is the country with the happiest people on the planet. This, from a
report that ranks such countries. Before you ask, the United States is 17, behind Canada (6), and Mexico (16). And just because you're curious and probably won't look at the report, the other leaders were Norway and Switzerland, behind Denmark. If you want a quick lowdown, this
article will give it to you.
What I'm interested in here though are the reasons given for the state of bliss in Denmark. Why every country in the world that is not at least in the top dozen or so in happiness should not be poring over these matters quite seriously is something we just have to wonder about.
So the reasons why the Danes are the happiest people in the world. There are six factors that together "explain three quarters of differences in
life evaluations across hundreds of countries and over the years."
The six factors for a happy nation split evenly between concerns on a
government- and on a human-scale. The happiest countries have in common a
large GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy at birth and a lack of
corruption in leadership. But also essential were three things over
which individual citizens have a bit more control over: A sense of
social support, freedom to make life choices and a culture of
generosity.
But why Denmark, you may wonder. Well, according to the report, this is why. And the following is quoted from
this web piece.
1. Denmark supports parents
While American women scrape by with
an average maternal leave of 10.3 weeks, Danish families receive
a total of 52 weeks of parental leave.
Mothers are able to take 18 weeks and fathers receive their own
dedicated 2 weeks at up to 100 percent salary. The rest of the paid time
off is up to the family to use as they see fit.
But the support doesn't stop at the end of this time. Danish children have access to
free or low-cost child care. And
early childhood education is associated with
health and well-being throughout life for its recipients --
as well as for mothers. What's more, this frees up young mothers to return to the work force if they'd like to. The result? In Denmark,
79 percent of mothers return
to their previous level of employment, compared to 59 percent of
American women. These resources mean that women contribute
34 to 38 percent of income in Danish households with children, compared to American women, who contribute 28 percent of income.
2.
Health care is a civil right -- and a source of social support
Danish citizens expect and receive health care as a basic right. But
what's more, they know how to effectively use their health systems.
Danish people are in touch with their primary care physician an average
of nearly seven times per year,
according to a 2012 survey of family medicine in the country. And that means they have a single advocate who helps them navigate more complicated care.
"This gatekeeping system essentially is designed to support the
principle that treatment ought to take place at the lowest effective
care level along with the idea of continuity of care provided by a
family doctor,"
wrote the authors of the family medicine survey.
By contrast, Americans seek medical care an average of fewer than
four times per year and they don't just visit their general practitioner
-- this figure includes emergency room visits, where many uninsured
Americans must access doctors. This diversity of resources means that
many Americans don't have continuity of care -- not a single medical
professional advocating for them and putting together a comprehensive
medical history.
3. Gender equality is prioritized
Denmark regularly ranks among
the top 10 countries in a World Economic Forum's yearly report that
measures gender equality. While no country in the world has yet achieved
gender parity, Denmark and other Nordic countries are coming close.
That is in no small part because of the strong presence of women in
leadership positions. Reported the World Economic Forum:
The
Nordic countries were also early starters in providing women with the
right to vote (Sweden in 1919, Norway in 1913, Iceland and Denmark in
1915, Finland in 1906). In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, political parties
introduced voluntary gender quotas in the 1970s, resulting in high
numbers of female political representatives over the years. In Denmark,
in fact, this quota has since been abandoned as no further stimulus is
required.
Indeed, the country currently has its first
female prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt. . . .
But government leadership merely exemplifies greater gender balance throughout the culture.
4. Biking is the norm
In Denmark's most populated
and largest city, Copenhagen, bikes account for 50 percent of its
residents' trips to school or work. Half. Half of commuting happens on a
bike in Copenhagen and that doesn't just improve fitness levels and
reduce carbon emissions, it also
contributes to the wealth of the city, reported Forbes:
Researchers
found that for every kilometer traveled by bike instead of by car,
taxpayers saved 7.8 cents (DKK 0.45) in avoided air pollution,
accidents, congestion, noise and wear and tear on infrastructure.
Cyclists in Copenhagen cover an estimated 1.2 million kilometers each
day –- saving the city a little over $34 million each year.
What's
more, just 30 minutes of daily biking adds an average of one to two
years to the life expectancy of Copenhagen's cyclists.
5. Danish culture puts a positive spin on its harsh environment
Here's
how Danish people turn lemons into spiced mulled wine: Ever heard of
the concept of hygge? While some would define it as cultivated coziness,
hygge is often considered the major weapon in combatting the dreary
darkness that befalls the Nordic country over the winter. In a place
where the sun shines fewer than seven hours during the height of the
winter solstice -- a level of darkness that can (and does) stir
depression and sad feelings -- the concept of a cozy scene, full of love
and indulgence, can help to mitigate some of the season's worst
psychological effects.
After all, both strong social connections
and many of the indulgent foods associated with hygge -- such as
chocolate, coffee and wine -- are mood boosters.
6. Danes feel a responsibility to one another
Danes
don't prioritize social security and safety simply so they
can receive benefits; there's a real sense of collective responsibility
and belonging. And this civic duty -- combined with the economic
security and work-life balance to support it -- results in a high rate
of volunteerism. According to
a government exploration of Danish "responsibility":
Denmark
is a society where citizens participate and contribute to making
society work. More than 40 percent of all Danes do voluntary work in
cultural and sports associations, NGOs, social organisations, political
organisations, etc. There is a wealth of associations: in 2006, there
were 101,000 Danish organisations -- worth noting in a population of
just 5.5 million.
The economic value of this unpaid work is DKK 35.3
billion. Combined with the value growth from the non-profit sector,
public subsidies and membership fees, the total economic impact of the
sector represents 9.6 percent of the Danish GDP.
But
that sense of stewardship isn't just extra-governmental: Danes also take
pride in their involvement with the democratic process. During the last
election in September 2011, for example, 87.7 percent of the country
voted.
