And the happiest people on Earth are officially...
the Norwegians.
They eat lots of fresh seafood.
They live with breathtaking scenery.
And the long dark winters don't seem to dampen their spirits.
For the first time, Norway's taken the top spot on the United Nations World Happiness
Report.
"Is Norway number one?
Wow!"
"It is not the weather because it's very cold, but I think it's the nature and the people."
"It's a free country, you can speak your mind."
"We can appreciate changes and we are also content with it."
Joar Vittersø is a psychologist and happiness researcher.
He's been trying to find out what makes people contented with their lives - or not - since
the 1980s.
And why are his own countrymen at the top of the international ranking?
"People are more equal here than they are in other places in the world.
And that has a lot of benefits to it, for example people trust each other more when
they are on equal footing.
And trust, we know, is a very important factor for you to thrive and be comfortable and satisfied
with your life."
The northern city of Tromsø can serve as an example.
The educational system is excellent.
The state provides health care, and unemployment and poverty are low.
Joar Vittersø works at the Arctic University of Tromsø - the world's northernmost.
He asserts that the positive attitude of people in the high north plays a big part in their
overall contentment.
"In some parts of the world you actually see that the less daylight, the more depression
you can observe.
That is not the case in Norway.
In Northern Norway, it seems that people have found ways of adapting to the dark period.
They have activities they look forward to conduct during the winter which compensate
and even more than compensate for the dark period."
Skiing, the national sport, was even invented in Norway.
Tromsø has plenty of snow on the ground for six months a year.
The northern lights and sled-dog runs are part of life.
During the short summers, many Norwegians love to go hiking with family and friends.
The law allows everyone to make camp and even build a fire in the open.
"In Norwegian it's called 'allemannsretten'.
That's a very long tradition in Norway.
I think it's almost a thousand years old.
You are allowed to trespass other people's property, you can even hunt there, but it
should be in agreement with the owner, but the owner cannot deny you accessing it and
using it."
From the age of two, children at this day-care center in Tromsø spend their days outside
- no matter what the weather.
Kjell Kampevoll co- founded this open-air day-care center - one of many in Norway.
He believes the key to happiness can be found in the Norwegians' closeness to nature.
"Yes, I really think that my kids are really happy.
More kids play together without fighting."
Birgit Hem and Conrad Helgeland live with their four children not far from Tromsø.
They both have jobs and share the housework.
They make an extra effort to make their home cozy - 'koselig' in Norwegian - especially
when it's cold outside.
"I think Norwegians like having a cozy home and candles when it's dark and make nice food
and be with their family and have a good time."
Birgit Hem is also quite happy that she doesn't have to worry about her children's future.
Joar Vittersø says governments can do much to enhance the people's happiness - but individuals
can, too.
"I think that we need more attention towards what really matters in our lives.
I think actually it's good for people to reflect a little bit upon what is important for me,
what should I do with my life and not just go along the flow and follow what is supposed
to be the road to success."
Norwegians have their own word for a special kind of happiness.
'Utepils' - to sit in the sunshine and enjoy a beer.
During the Arctic summers with over 20 hours of daylight, Norwegians have plenty of opportunity
to experience these happy moments.