The world’s 15 happiest countries

In 2010, Gallup asked people around the world to rate, on a scale of 0 to 10, their current life situation and what they believe the quality of their lives will be in five years. Survey respondents who rated their lives a 7 or higher and their future lives an 8 or higher were considered to have a thriving well-being, meaning that they had positive views on their current and future lives. The respondents reported fewer health problems, less stress and sadness, and more happiness, respect and enjoyment, Gallup says. Gallup looked at 124 countries, and here’s a look at the world’s 15 happiest based on Gallup’s most recent survey, with a European country taking the top spot.

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No. 15: Brazil

People visit the unconventional, concrete and glass Cathedral of Brasilia at sundown. According to the Gallup survey, 57 percent of Brazilians feel that they have a thriving well-being.

Eraldo Peres / Associated Press

No. 13 (tie): Costa Rica

Italy's Mark Di Giuseppe, a one man band who goes by the name of "The Straniero," performs during the International Festival of Arts in San Jose March 19. Fifty-eight percent of Costa Ricans said that their well-being was thriving.

Juan Carlos Ulate / Reuters

No. 13 (tie): Austria

Hofburg Castle stands in the background. Fifty-eight percent of Austrians also consider their well-being to be thriving.

/ Associated Press

No. 12: United States

The Manhattan skyline stands beyond the Statue of Liberty in New York. Fifty-nine percent of U.S. residents considered their well-being to be thriving.

Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg

No. 11: Panama

Sixty-one percent of Panama's residents gave high ratings for their standard of living.

Maria Gibbs / For The Washington Post

No. 9 (tie): Ireland

A horse and cart pass by the Bank of Ireland in central Dublin. Sixty-two percent of Ireland's residents considered their well-being to be thriving.

Peter Morrison / Associated Press

No. 9 (tie): Netherlands

Pedestrians cross the road in front of the Magna Plaza shopping mall in Amsterdam in June 2011. Sixty-two percent of Netherlanders considered their well-being to be thriving.

Jock Fistck / Bloomberg

No. 7 (tie): New Zealand

The skyline of Auckland, New Zealand, is shown in March 2012. Sixty-three percent of New Zealanders said they had a thriving well-being.

Ian Roman / Associated Press

No. 7 (tie): Israel

Bialik Street in Tel Aviv opens into a pleasant square with eclectic-style buildings from the 1920s. Sixty-three percent of Israel's residents gave high ratings for their standard of living.

/ Joann Greco

No. 5 (tie): Venezuela

A woman walks in front of a mural depicting the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, center left, and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, center right, in Caracas in March 2012. Sixty-four percent of the country's residents thought that their well-being was thriving.

Leo Ramirez / Agence France-Presse via Getty Images

No. 5 (tie): Finland

Pedestrian pass stores and a tram in Helsinki in December 2011. Sixty-four percent of Finland's residents gave their standard of living a high rating.

/ Bloomberg

No. 4: Australia

A swimmer runs into the water at dawn at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Sixty-five percent of the country's residents believe they have a thriving quality of life.

Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

No. 2 (tie): Canada

Niagara Falls as seen from the Canadian side of the U.S.-Canadian border. Sixty-nine percent of Canadians considered their well-being to be thriving.

Don Emmert / Agence France-Presse via Getty Images

No. 2 (tie): Sweden

The Swedish flag waves outside a building. Sixty-nine percent of Sweden's residents said they have thriving lives.

/ Associated Press

No. 1: Denmark

A boat carries sightseers through the Nyhavn district of Copenhagen. Denmark took the top spot with 72 percent of the country's residents saying that they have thriving lives.

Ulrik Jantzen / Bloomberg

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