Thailand is world's 32nd happiest country

**William** · 12-07-2006, 07:10 PM

Thailand is world's 32nd happiest country

LONDON - Thailand is the 32nd happiest country in the world, according to a study published Wednesday measuring people's wellbeing and their impact on the environment.

Thailand bested more than 140 countries in the Happy Planet Index. In Asia, the index shows the Philippines as the best (17) and Indonesia (23), China (31), Malaysia (44) , India (62), Hong Kong (88)and Japan (95).

Elsewhere the rankings are Iceland (64), The Netherlands (70), Spain (87), ), Denmark (99), Norway (115), Sweden (119), Finland (123) and Australia (129).

The index chose the tiny South Pacific Ocean archipelago of Vanuatu as the happiest country on Earth. Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Panama complete the top five.

Zimbabwe came bottom of the 178 countries ranked, below second-worst performer Swaziland, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

The Group of Eight industrial powers meet in Saint Petersburg this weekend but have not much to smile about, according to the index.

Italy came out best in 66th place, ahead of Germany (81) Britain (108), Canada (111), France (129), the United States (150) and Russia, in lowly 172nd place.

The index was compiled by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation (NEF).

NEF explained in a statement that its happiness index did not use gross domestic product (GDP) to measure a country's progress; instead, it combined environmental impact with well-being to measure the environmental efficiency with which countries provide long and happy lives.

"We are used to comparing countries in terms of crude riches or what they trade," NEF policy director Andrew Simms said.

"But, NEF's Happy Planet Index measures something much more fundamental. It addresses the relative success or failure of countries in giving their citizens a good life, whilst respecting the environmental resource limits on which all our lives depend," he said.

According to NEF's criteria, areas like Central America fared well because they had good life expectancy, high life satisfaction and had a smaller impact on the planet's resources.

The industrialized G8 nations scored poorly mainly because of their high consumption of the world's resources.

The report was published in association with international environmental charity Friends of the Earth. (agencies)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=108576

**Torbek** · 12-07-2006, 10:13 PM

Find it hard to imagine that countries like those in this set...

Iceland (64), The Netherlands (70), Spain (87), ), Denmark (99), Norway (115), Sweden (119), Finland (123) and Australia (129).

...some of which basically reside in the top 10 under 'quality of life' measures, could possibly be ranked so low in terms of 'happiness'.

Perhaps they just don't know they have it so good (which I think applies to a degree in Australia at least).

But I'm sure if they re-pharse the question and ask if you would rather be a citizen of Thailand, Philippines, China, or Indonesia their 'happpiness' ranking where they were would quickly go through the roof!

**barbaro** · 12-07-2006, 10:18 PM

"Happy" is kind of culturally loaded, though.

It's a tough term to categorize.

**Spin** · 12-07-2006, 11:28 PM

The Hub of Happiness

I would of thought Holland hit home higher than number 70, what with all that good shit they smoke there.

**Marmite the Dog** · 13-07-2006, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Old Codger

I would of thought Holland hit home higher than number 70, what with all that good shit they smoke there.

Maybe not everyone needs to be intoxicated to enjoy life?

**Cobby34** · 13-07-2006, 09:17 AM

Makes you wonder how they measure happiness,is there a happiness meter.I cant beleive that people get paid to conduct such stupid survey's.

**Spin** · 13-07-2006, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Old Codger

I would of thought Holland hit home higher than number 70, what with all that good shit they smoke there.

Maybe not everyone needs to be intoxicated to enjoy life?

Do you own a "high on life" t-shirt?

**ChiangMai noon** · 13-07-2006, 10:16 AM

I suspect Italy have moved up a few places during the last week.

**in4zip** · 13-07-2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Milkman

"Happy" is kind of culturally loaded, though.

It's a tough term to categorize.

spot on Milky!

prolly a TD thread ad hoc on "what makes ya happy" is in order!

**poolcleaner** · 13-07-2006, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Old Codger

The Hub of Happiness

I would of thought Holland hit home higher than number 70, what with all that good shit they smoke there.

Clinical fact.

The after effects of smoking marijuana include depression.
That is why users are so keen to pack another bong, dissatisfaction with their present state.

I would guess they wouldn't feel like filling/answering a questionaire whilst stoned.

**Lily** · 13-07-2006, 11:10 AM

^All drugs including nicotine, alcohol and caffeine (and diet coke) have a downer after the effects wear off.

**slimboyfat** · 13-07-2006, 11:11 AM

i am living in asia's least happy country

**William** · 13-07-2006, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Lily

^All drugs including nicotine and caffeine (and diet coke) have a downer after the effects wear off.

I guess the same could be said about Viagra

**in4zip** · 13-07-2006, 11:16 AM

on the globe... Kindly, all ye that are here, that will be here soon or are in some way connected with this Land of Sanuk, what is the root cause of your sooo much happiness. Pray tell

**buadhai** · 13-07-2006, 11:21 AM

How can the Colombians be happy in the face of all the drug wars and disappearances?

**Lily** · 13-07-2006, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by William

I guess the same could be said about Viagra

I tried to give you a green for that but it wasn't allowed.

As Mr Newton said; what goes up.....................

**Marmite the Dog** · 13-07-2006, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by buadhai

How can the Colombians be happy in the face of all the drug wars and disappearances?

Cheap coke?

**Torbek** · 13-07-2006, 12:40 PM

Bangkok Post this morning said the three factors were life expectancy, quality of life (I think?) and ecological footprint.

No wonder undeveloped shitholes rated high. What footprint do they have compared to industrialised nations?

And I'm not sure how the fact a Vanuatan (?) has a non-existent ecological footprint contributes to his happiness.

Bloody stupid survey, really...

**DJ Pat** · 13-07-2006, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Old Codger

I would of thought Holland hit home higher than number 70, what with all that good shit they smoke there.

Maybe not everyone needs to be intoxicated to enjoy life?

Quite right, I'd say living Holland could be hell.

**benhat** · 14-07-2006, 10:55 PM

uncle sam has pressured the clogs to issue licences so that only amsterdammers can go to coffee shops!!! may have cut down on the profits a bit?? = less happy

**Tippaporn** · 15-07-2006, 12:27 AM

Thailand (32)
United States (150)

No wonder I get depressed everytime I come back to the States.

**RDN** · 15-07-2006, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by buadhai

How can the Colombians be happy in the face of all the drug wars and disappearances?

How would you reply to someone who asks "Are you happy?" while pointing an AK47 at you?

**Silent Ninja** · 28-07-2006, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by Torbek

Bangkok Post this morning said the three factors were life expectancy, quality of life (I think?) and ecological footprint.

Ecological footprint... is that something the average citizen care about?

Here's another study. Denmark is number 1 (believe it or not), UK 41 and Thailand 76.
The World Map of Happiness - University of Leicester

How people in Denmark and UK can be more happy than in Thailand is beyond me

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