Canada Ranks 2nd in International Happiness Study

Called "Your better life index", the new measure is part of a wider program to measure well-being and progress of its member countries. The index covers 11 areas: housing, incomes, employment, social relationships, education, the environment, the administration of institutions, health, general satisfaction, security and the balance between work and family.

Australia ranked first in the overall happiness scale; Canada came second. The United States finished seventh, and Turkey finished last. The study, the first of its kind commissioned by the OECD, begs the question - can happiness really be measured, and if so why would we want to measure it? In a presentation to the OECD, in 2010, Ruut Veenhoven, a happiness expert from the University of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, wrote happiness can and should be measured regularly by governments and international organizations. "Measurement is necessary to assess whether happiness can be realistically raised, to select means to further happiness, and finally to assess the effectiveness of such policies.," he wrote.

Veenhoven notes that promoting happiness and well-being is a legitimate and important goal of government.
"So far the data show that happiness is a realistic goal for public policy," he wrote. "Greater happiness is also possible in most countries of the world (through policy initiatives). What is possible in (high ranking) countries like Denmark and Switzerland should also be possible elsewhere." He adds happier countries are generally economically prosperous nations, allow for political autonomy, and practice gender equality.
 Okay, so we are not quite number one. I'd still rather live here than Turkey. WTF are they doing to people in Turkey??

Even our Animals are happy