(RFI).- He World Happiness Report published by Sustainable Development Solutions Network United Nations takes into account six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and lack of corruption.

This year for the seventh time Finland took first place. “The report measures happiness by life satisfaction, not by how often people smile or how sad they feel. “It is based on how satisfied they are with their quality of life, which is very high in Finland,” explains RFI Jennifer DePaola, University of Helsinki researcher and happiness expert.

What does it mean to be happy for Finns? Details about DePaola.

There is a government that works well and that Finns trust. There is a welfare state that covers everything from public health to education, whether you are a small child or a doctoral student. The level of corruption is very low compared to other countries. In addition, Finnish society has a lot of freedom, social trust and a high sense of autonomy.

He also emphasizes that Finns have a “good balance” between individual success and social relationships.

“Poor sister”

Today Finland is the most stable, safest and best governed country in the world. But it was not always so. Since gaining independence from Russia in 1917 and throughout the twentieth century Finland was considered the Nordic countries’ “poor” sister. However, its economy grew until it became one of the richest economies in the world and the great powerhouse of the region.

Report This does not allow us to establish whether Finns were less happy when they were a “poor” nation. According to Jennifer DePaola, “It’s hard to say because this World Happiness Report has only been around since 2012.”

Without a doubt, Closeness to nature and a good work-life balance are key to Scandinavian satisfaction.. And yet, from the outside, Finns are perceived as a melancholy, cautious people, and this image is more associated with sadness than with happiness.

“Yes, there is a great tendency towards melancholy”, answers the expert. “We don’t express positive emotions the way we express them, for example, in Italy, Spain or South America. “Finns are more reserved.”

Failure in the USA and Germany

None of the world’s most populous countries are in the top 20 countries.

For the first time in more than 10 years, The US and Germany are not among the 20 happiest countries.

Costa Rica and Kuwait are in the top 20, and Mexico is in 25th place. This year’s report found a stronger sense of happiness among newer generations than among older ones.