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MEDIA ADVISORY
World Happiness Report ranks Canada fifth happiest country in the world
(Toronto – April 23, 2015) The 2015 World Happiness Report, published today, ranks Canada fifth
for subjective well-being among 158 countries worldwide. Canada has moved up one place in the
rankings since the last report in 2013.
The report, produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), contains analysis
from leading experts in the fields of economics, neuroscience, national statistics, and describes how
measurements of subjective well-being can be used to assess national progress effectively. The
report is edited by Professor John F. Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia and the
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; Professor Richard Layard, Director of the Well-Being
Programme at LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance; and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of
the Earth Institute and of SDSN.
The first World Happiness Report, released in 2012 ahead of the UN high-level meeting on
Happiness and Well-being, drew international attention as a landmark first survey of the state of
global happiness. This latest report digs even deeper into the data looking at country trends since the
first report, regional indicators, factors in gender and age, and the importance of investing in social
capital. CIFAR Senior Fellow Nicole Fortin (University of British Columbia) co-authored a chapter
comparing how happiness varies by gender and age worldwide with Professor Helliwell. Women
show higher life-satisfaction levels than men in Canada at a level that is statistically significant.
The report identifies the countries with the highest levels of happiness:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Switzerland
Iceland
Denmark
Norway
Canada
"As the science of happiness advances, we are getting to the heart of what factors define quality of
life for citizens. We are encouraged that more and more governments around the world are listening
and responding with policies that put well-being first," says Helliwell. "Countries with strong social
and institutional capital not only support greater well-being, but are more resilient to social and
economic crises."
Since it was first published in 2012, the World Happiness Report demonstrated that well-being and
happiness are critical indicators of a nation’s economic and social development, and should be a key
aim of policy. The World Happiness Report 2015 also comes in advance of three high-level
negotiations that will give world leaders the opportunity to reshape the global agenda and move the
world towards a sustainable development agenda that includes well-being as an essential element.
“The aspiration of society is the flourishing of its members,” said Professor Sachs. “This report
gives evidence on how to achieve societal well-being. It's not by money alone, but also by fairness,
honesty, trust, and good health. The evidence here will be useful to all countries as they pursue the
new Sustainable Development Goals.”
As previous reports have done, The World Happiness Report 2015 reveals trends in the data judging
just how happy countries really are. On a scale running from 0 to 10, people in over 150 countries,
surveyed by Gallup over the period 2012-15, reveal an average score of 5.1 (out of 10). Six key
variables explain three-quarters of the variation in annual national average scores over time and
among countries: real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on,
perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity (Table 2.1). This
year for the first time ever, the report breaks down the data by gender, age, and region and finds
striking differences, some much larger than have previously been found.
“A positive outlook during the early stages of life is inherently desirable, but it also lays the
foundation for greater happiness during adulthood,” said Layard. “As we consider the value of
happiness in today’s report, we must invest early on in the lives of our children so that they grow to
become independent, productive and happy adults, contributing both socially and economically.”
The World Happiness Report 2015 shows that at both the individual and national levels, all
measures of well-being, including emotions and life evaluations, are strongly influenced by the
quality of the surrounding social norms and institutions. These include family and friendships at the
individual level, the presence of trust and empathy at the neighborhood and community levels, and
power and quality of the over-arching social norms that determine the quality of life within and
among nations and generations. When these social factors are well-rooted and readily available,
communities and nations are more resilient.
The report also demonstrates that a key national challenge is to ensure that policies are designed and
delivered in ways that enrich the social fabric, and teach the power of empathy to current and future
generations. Under the pressures of putting right what is obviously wrong, there is often too little
attention paid to building the vital social fabric. According to the report, paying greater attention to
the levels and sources of subjective well-being has helped us to reach these conclusions, and to
recommend making and keeping happiness as a central focus for research, policy and practice.
About CIFAR
CIFAR creates knowledge that is transforming our world. Established in 1982, the Institute brings
together interdisciplinary groups of extraordinary researchers from around the globe to address
questions and challenges of importance to the world. Our networks help support the growth of
research leaders and are catalysts for change in business, government and society. CIFAR is
generously supported by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and
Quebec, Canadian and international partners, as well as individuals, foundations and corporations.
Contact:
Lindsay Jolivet
Writer & Media Relations Specialist
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
[email protected]
(416) 971-4876