The World's Happiest Country

May 11, 2017

If you are going to travel, you may as well travel to a happy country. Time to create and start checking off those bucket list travel destinations and this may help you do so.

There is plenty of water in many of these destinations...

By Gulnaz Khan & Christine Blau on nationalgeographic.com

Find out which place made it to the top of the list in 2017.

Stockholm, Sweden

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEX HOLLAND

What makes a country happy? The United Nations considers the answer with its annual World Happiness Report, ranking a total of 155 countries. Key ingredients for well-being include longer healthy years of life, more social support, trust in government, higher GDP per capita, and generosity.

This year’s list hosts the same top 10 countries as 2016, however some managed to jump the ranks while others fell. Most notably, Norway rose from fourth place to first this year, snatching the title from Denmark.

While the experiences of tourists were not considered specifically, the report sets a standard for blissful places to visit. After all, aren't smiles contagious?

Here are the happiest countries in the world and some of what makes them unique.

10. SWEDEN

In Sweden, the coffee break is sacred. Swedes carve out time each day to slow down and enjoy fika, a short beverage break that can be done solo or with company.

9. AUSTRALIA

Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia

PHOTOGRAPH BY DALLAS AND JOHN HEATON, AURORA

From the packed shores of Bondi Beach to the quiet hideaways along the Great Ocean Road, Australia has a whopping 10,685 beaches.

10. SWEDEN

9. AUSTRALIA

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