World's Happiest Countries: Gallup Survey (PHOTOS)

Denmark is only too happy to treat you well if you're visiting. That quickly changes if you want to live there. 'Immigrant' has become a dirty word here and even if you're a white westerner, you are an 'immigrant'.

I would love to live in Canada but hubby doesn't want to move and it is so cold. I am surprised to see Brazil on the list since I keep hearing about the high crime rate.

maybe some of you should move to these other countries if things are so bad here right?

Long live beatiful Canada

I would have guessed Jamaica...

How can America come in as "happy" when the teapartyers tell us they are angry and hopeless?
Does this mean they do not represent the majority, or even a sizable minority?
What about all the Lipton I bought?

The Partridge Family and the Brady Bunch were happy. But the US the richest country in the world? I thought the US had hundreds of billions of dollars in debt and China had hundreds of billions of dollars in the bank. That's what the list published by the CIA said. China first, America last.

They need to retake that poll!

So, the US is the 12th happiest country in the world out of 132? That's pretty good! I'm rather surprised. Not sure why this piece of information prompted a whole bunch of posters in here to indulge in bashing the US, as it actually shows that whatever difficulties we may have, we're among the top tenth percentile of happiest people in the world.

There is some irony in that the countries with high per capita income tax are among the happiest. Maybe it has to do with shared sacrifice? The happiest countries are more homogeneous and invoke a sense of community. America is fragmented, very diverse and people feel isolated, defensive and threatened - the response is more self-centered and more self-serving. Most Americans have not been taught to value shared sacrifice and serve the common good. All it takes is a common sense approach that believes that quality of life for all is more important than personal wealth and greed.

Australia - Democratic socialist country. $15 an hour minimum wage. Everybody, even the street cleaner gets 4 weeks paid vacation with extra months salary tax free to spend. 5.2% unemployment rate. Universal healthcare. Jobs of teachers and nurses protected for seven years when family and parental leave taken. Good government services efficiently provided, funded by higher income taxes. People trust their government. Sensibly regulated banks in very strong condition. Interest rates raised six times in the last year to keep strong economy from overheating. Right of center government left country with no debt and surplus after 12 years in power. Excellent standard of living. Happy working class people.

USA - Democratic capitalist country. $7.75 an hour minimum wage. People lucky to get one week vacation. 10-15% unemployment rate. Hardworking people bankrupted by medical costs or dying without medical insurance. Teachers and policemen being laid off. Unregulated banks and financial sector bring nation to edge of abyss. Interest rates near zero and economy still in the tank. Total distrust of government. Federal and state governments broke. Lowest income tax rates in our history. Right of center government took $200 billion surplus and turned it into $1.3 trillion dollar deficit, and wants to lower minimum wage. Standard of living declining. Demoralized working class people.

I'm a natural born US citizen, and permanent resident of Australia, splitting time between L.A., and Melbourne. I've seen both systems first hand, and it's been a real eye opener.

We've been sold a bill of goods.