Best Countries for Quality of Life

Denmark, Switzerland, and Finland are the top three countries with the best quality of life in 2019. A statistical analysis report by Sleep Junkie ranked over 70 countries from around the world, looking at key factors such as financial stability, freedom of choice, and life expectancy. Here’s how the top three measured up.   Denmark With a population of 5.6 million, Denmark topped the charts as the happiest place to live. Denmark claims one of the smallest wealth gaps between classes in the workforce, an excellent healthcare system, and a sound balance between life and work. Denmark also maintains a 100% literacy rate.   Switzerland Switzerland comes in at a close second as the best quality of life country in the world. Switzerland boasts a great education system and excellent infrastructure, as well as a booming economy in a population of 8.5 million. It also doesn’t hurt that Switzerland has one of the lowest obesity rates in Europe at 8%.   Finland Coming in at third place is Finland. Despite frigid temperatures, Finland has a high standard of living, with low corruption levels and more forest per square mile. With a population just below Denmark at 5.5 million, Finland is one of the safest countries to live due to the low population and tight-knit communities.   What Determines Happiness and Long Life? Happiness is the key to a longer life. A 2011 study conducted at UC Berkeley took 3,853 participants between the ages of 52 and 79 and divided them into three groups, depending on the participants’ current level of happiness. Over a period of five years, all participants were monitored and asked questions to determine their average happiness. The results showed that the low happiness group had a 7.3% death rate, the medium happiness group had a 4.6% death rate, and the group with the most average happiness had a 3.6% death rate. This study conducted by the National Institute on Aging showed surprisingly strong results linking happiness to life expectancy, even when factoring in chronic health problems, depression, and financial security. The study also found that the absence of happiness was more detrimental to overall health than negative emotions like anger, sadness, and depression. -- Sources: https://www.sleepjunkie.org/the-lifestyle-index/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/228380/people-who-pay-more-for-eco-friendly-products-and-services/ https://www.gfmag.com/global-data/non-economic-data/happiest-countries https://www.pnas.org/content/108/45/18244 About the Author Meg Riley is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and a full-time writer focused on sleep health and the mattress industry. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Sleep Junkie. She has her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University where she studied Advertising and Public Relations and wrote articles on the student experience for College Magazine. Her writing and research has been featured on Healthline, PhillyVoice, Daily Waffle, Boss Magazine, and more.