Mirth on Earth

Nations differ dramatically in levels of happiness. But the hot spots aren'twhere you might think. And while wealth doesn't hurt, happiness has more to do with satisfying a thirst for free dom and personal control. To say nothing of expectations.

The United States may be the only country whose birth certificate--the Declaration of Independence--explicitly mentions happiness in its second sentence. But Americans have no monopoly on life satisfaction. Of 39 countries rated in a recent study, the United States ranks a mere 12th in national happiness, edged out by surprise contenders Singapore and Luxembourg. Economic powerhouse Japan is down in 30th place, behind isolated Cuba and strife-ridden South Africa. And while for many folks paradise is synonymous with the glistening sands and balmy clime of a tropical island, the award for Happiest Cluster of Nations goes to frosty Scandinavia: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland all made the Top Ten. University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener, Ph.D., suspects that the low crime rate and lack of an economic underclass boosts satisfaction in those nations.

Why are some countries happier than others? Some factors:

o Individualist cultures are generally happier than collectivist ones. In countries that emphasize the group over the self, like China, being happy simply isn't a priority. "In those cultures, especially among women, people report much more frequently having not considered their own happiness," says Diener.

o Money matters-- but only up to a point. In impoverished countries wealth does buy happiness by allowing people to escape squalid conditions. And rich nations are generally happier than poor ones. But once people can afford life's necessities, there isn't much of a happiness gap between the rich and the poor. Case in point: One-third of the wealthiest Americans are actually less happy than the average man on the street.

o Those huddled masses yearning to be free have the right idea. One of the best correlates of a nation's happiness is how long it's been a democracy.

o Why do Pacific Rim countries score so low in happiness surveys? Some experts have speculated that those cultures discourage expression of emotion. But students in China and Korea report a greater range of emotional highs and lows over the course of a day than do Americans.

o The land of brie and bordeaux could use some cheering up as well. One theory for France's poor showing: It's a side effect of cultural norms that make griping a national pastime. "If it's normative to complain all the time," notes Diener, "there's a good chance your emotions will follow your behavior."