The annual World Happiness Report has again ranked Finland and other Scandinavian countries the most cheerful nations on Earth. Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20 in place of the United States and Germany.

Finland has remained the happiest country in the world for the seventh year a row with nordic neighbors SwedenDenmark and Iceland also retaining their places in the top 10, according to the annual World Happiness Report published on Wednesday.

But rising unhapiness especially among young people has seen other Western countries drop down the UN-sponsored index, with the United States and Germany dropping out of the top 20 for the first time since the report’s first edition more than a decade ago.

Taking their place were Costa Rica and Kuwait at 12 and 13 respectively, while Eastern European countries SerbiaBulgaria and Latvia reported the biggest increases in happiness.

Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, remained in last place.

    • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      Anyone could write a letter to the local Mayor, or pastor, or the town banker, or sheriff, and get an answer.

      Dear Mr. Mayor. Hack has applied for a job as a cuspidor inspector. We would like to know what you think of his character and intellect.

          • HACKthePRISONS@kolektiva.social
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            4 months ago

            i’m sorry. where are we going with this? are you suggesting it’s ok to let corporations and governments compile databases of information on people, and that surveillance is not, itself, a form of oppression?

            • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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              4 months ago

              Where did I say it was okay?

              I’m just pointing out the reality; there was a brief period from about 1945 to maybe 1975 where a person could travel across the country easily without a photo ID or a bank card. Before that we were spied on by the neighbors and after that computers took over. You’ve probably never been safe.