This post explores some of the different factors that constitute a happy and healthy life in various countries.
What factors constitute happy living? Many people consider a good life a combination of strong relations with others, mental and physical health, and money. While the lucky few are abundant in all of these areas, many people have to carefully divide their time to achieve a life worth living. This often involves working to live and not living to work. However, working more hours can have a positive effect on health. But is longevity of life worth sacrificing free time? Does living longer justify working more? And does physical health necessarily mean mental health?
Japan, the US, and Thailand offer the fewest worldwide vacation days per year. In contrast, countries such as Germany, Spain, and Denmark offer the most paid leave. However, Japan has the second-longest life expectancy in the world despite having both reduced time off and longer work expectancy. The Japanese people place a high emphasis on a healthy diet and regular physical activity. However, their method of working is also what helps the people live longer on average than anywhere in the world except for Hong Kong.
In Nagano, Japan, the medical costs per person are extremely low. This is because after most people retire from their office jobs, they kick off a second career. It is very common for office retirees to next start work on a farm. The regular physical activity of farm life on average reduces illness for Japanese people and leaves them with both physical health and a longer life expectancy. However, the concept of working until you’re dead might sound like a death sentence to people in other parts of the world. Meanwhile, it doesn’t mean the Japanese people are happier.
Aspects aside from physical health constitute quality of life and overall well-being. It’s therefore worth noting that although Japan is the healthiest country in the world with the 2nd-longest life expectancy, it ranks at 55th for the happiest country in the world in 2021. Therefore, it’s very clear that a healthier life does not mean a happier life. Korea is the 2nd healthiest country in the world, though South Korea ranks as the 61st happiest country. This reveals a seeming lack of correlation between happiness and physical health.
Where are people both happy and healthy? And do big salaries contribute to overall well-being? Finland is considered the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark and Switzerland. It appears that Switzerland is one country that consistently ranks highly in various wellness categories. Switzerland is the 3rd happiest country in the world and has the largest gross national income worldwide. It also is the 4th healthiest country with the 4th largest life expectancy. Norway, Iceland, and Sweden are all countries that rank highly for these factors as well.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve both physical and mental health. But clearly, more work is not the way to achieve this balance since only about 7% of Swiss people claim to work long hours. Instead, other factors allow people in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden to thrive without working until they are well into their golden years. Active lifestyles, healthy national diets, smart healthcare systems, educational opportunities, low unemployment rates, relationships with others, and a higher quality of living leave people in these countries overall thriving. These factors also highlight what other countries are lacking.
So what’s the takeaway? It appears that widespread happiness and health are dependent upon institutional levels. The United States is a world leader in many sectors, but it is not one of the happiest or healthiest countries. The US has the 46th longest life expectancy and is ranked the 19th happiest country though it does have the 5th-highest gross national income per capita (while offering among the fewest number of vacation days in the world). The US is also known to be a deeply unhealthy country when it comes to diet and obesity levels, while its healthcare system should be criminal.
To build a happy and sustainable country, the welfare of the people should be prioritized. Working until you die might improve physical health, but it does not boost mental well-being. Likewise, being a world leader does not mean that a country is necessarily operating in a way that is most beneficial for its people. However, treading the line between happiness, health, and wealth seems to be very much possible, as evidenced by countries such as Switzerland.
Sources:
Healthiest Country in the World