Denmark Is The Happiest Country In The World For People Over 60

Where are the happiest 60-plus-year-olds in the world? Denmark, according to the World Happiness Report.

The country consistently ranks highly in happiness measures for a number of reasons. This year’s report was no exception: The country took the top spot for people over 60 and ranked second overall (only placing behind Finland).

While it’s important to know not all Danish people are happy 24/7, the country has some societal norms that make it easier to be so. Experts say there are also certain behaviors and beliefs that fuel the joy in the country.

Below, experts break down those factors and how you can glean some for your own day-to-day life:

The Nordic welfare state plays a major role.

“I think the evidence is quite clear… you’re more likely to be quite happy if you live in a welfare state than if you don’t,” said Søren Harnow Klausen, a professor of philosophy at the Department for the Study of Culture at the University of Southern Denmark.

While there are pros and cons to this system, overallthere is more financial freedom. Education, including college, is free, as is health care and nursing home care, Klausen said.

What’s more, all elderly Danes have their basic needs covered by a pension from the government, added Lars Larsen, a professor in the department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Aarhus University.

A lack of these measures often constrains freedom for older people in many countries, but not so much in Denmark, Klausen said. “And there’s especially little of that for the age group 60 to 75.”

Additionally, Larsen said Denmark is financially strong, has a long life expectancy and has low levels of corruption, which allows people to have a higher happiness baseline, too.

“Another thing that’s