I'm a trifle late in reading the World Happiness Report of 2022, but congratulations to the people and government of Finland, which received the 'happiest country in the world' award.
Following Finland in rankings were Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands — the world's five happiest nations. Following those were Luxembourg, Sweden, and Norway. New Zealand and Australia ranked 10th and 12th.
Struggling with antidemocratic forces and a minority political party that insists on blocking the path to a more liveable society was the United States, ranking 16th.
The report surveys more than 150 countries, with rankings based on three-year averages. The report's lesson "is that social support, generosity to one another, and honesty in government are crucial for well-being," said Columbia University's Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development. "World leaders should take heed. Politics should be directed as the great sages long ago insisted: to the well-being of the people, not the power of the rulers."
Not taking heed are, most notably, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, Nicolás Maduro, and the Taliban. Each rules as though his power is uppermost in considerations of state mechanisms. Putin is casually wrecking millions of Russian lives and destroying thousands more of soldiers' in his mad dash throughout Ukraine and Xi has anointed himself president for life from his imperial, authoritarian roost.
With two iron fists. Kim tragically yet luxuriously leads a nation suffering from global isolation and severe domestic impoverishment; by exiling or jailing opposition leaders, Maduro reigns via judicial corruption and the military; and the theocratic Taliban has created hell on earth for half its population, while all of its population groans under a devastated economy and increasing poverty.
Would that all leaders of the world focused on healthy lives, social support, and guaranteeing individuals' liberty. Perhaps all nations could then be as happy as Finland.