We all know that Ireland is one of the happiest countries in the world, but now it’s been confirmed by official findings.
The annual World Happiness Report has published its 2021 findings to confirm that Ireland is one of the happiest countries in the world.
Taking into consideration a number of factors, including GDP, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and social support, the World Happiness Report analyses the well-being of every country in the world.
As a country associated with rainbows, leprechauns, and creamy pints of Guinness, we aren’t really surprised that Ireland is one of the happiest countries in the world.
The official ranking – the happiest countries in the world
Ireland came in at number 13 in the World Happiness Report’s 2021 rankings, beating countries such as the U.K., the U.S.A., and Canada.
Despite being a year defined by the COVID-19 crisis and national lockdowns, Ireland’s ranking actually improved from last year, when it came in at number 16.
Topping the list of the happiest countries in the world for the fourth year in a row was Finland, followed by other Nordic countries, including Iceland, Denmark, and Switzerland in third, fourth, and fifth, with Sweden and Norway coming in at numbers six and eight.
Other countries that made the top ten were the Netherlands in fifth, Germany in seventh, New Zealand in ninth, and Austria in tenth.
Findings of the report – what impacts happiness?
The World Happiness Report takes into consideration findings on life evaluations from the Gallup World Poll.
After a year like no other, 2021’s World Happiness Report focused on the effects of COVID-19, looking at how people have fared globally, taking into account the structure and quality of people’s lives and how governments have dealt with the pandemic.
Factors supporting successful COVID-19 strategies included confidence in public institutions, income equality, whether the country had learned from previous pandemics, and whether the head of government was a woman.
Findings in Ireland – the details
Ireland ranked in 13th position, making it one of the happiest countries in the world. But what factors influenced this?
The report states, “Engagement in daily physical activity has been a recurring theme in recent research, with more frequent exercise related to increased well-being during the pandemic.”
In a sample of about 600 adults in Ireland surveyed a day after stay-at-home orders, those who spent more time outdoors engaging in activities or going for a walk reported more positive effects.
In contrast, in a sample of 604 adults in Ireland, the World Happiness Report found that those who engaged in social media use reported a more negative impact.
The report states, “Although social connection is vital in times of stress, such as a global pandemic, and many may use social media to connect with others while at a physical distance, research seems to point to social media having detrimental psychological outcomes.”
The report looked at how the effects of COVID-19 exacerbated existing socio-economic inequalities in every country and found that in Ireland, twice as many low-income workers reduced their working hours relative to high-income workers.
So, whether you prefer city life in Dublin or Cork, or something rural in the Irish countryside, as one of the top twenty happiest countries in the world, Ireland is one of the best places to live in the world!
