Why Nordic countries might not be as happy as you think

[Nergal]

 

Nordic countries like Finland and Norway may regularly come out on top of world happiness indexes for wellbeing year-on-year - but new research shows the happiness is far from universal.

A report authored by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen aims to provide a more nuanced picture of life in the Nordic nations - suggesting their reputations as utopias for happiness are masking significant problems for some parts of the population, especially young people.

The researchers behind In the Shadow of Happiness looked at data collected across five years between 2012-2016 to try and build a better picture of the so-called "happiness superpowers".

It asked people to mark their satisfaction with life out of 10 - with people above a seven categorised as thriving, fives and sixes as struggling and anyone scoring below a four deemed to be suffering.

It found that in total 12.3% of people living in the Nordic region said they were struggling or suffering, with 13.5% of young people ranking themselves as such.

This level only worsened in the age bracket of 80 or above - a group more affected by issues like illness.

It found general health and mental health were both closely associated with happiness ratings - with unemployment, income and sociability also playing a role.

By and large the report challenges our typical conception of the happiness trajectory of life - especially that we are all at our happiest while young.