A recent study suggests that strangers are much kinder than we often believe. According to this year’s World Happiness Report, people are about twice as likely to help others than we think.
The report, which was released on Thursday, looked at how people feel about trust and kindness across the globe. Researchers conducted an interesting experiment where they deliberately lost wallets in various locations to see how many would be returned. The results showed that the rate of returned wallets was nearly double what people expected. This finding highlights the connection between believing in the kindness of others and overall happiness.
John F. Helliwell, an economist at the University of British Columbia and a key contributor to the report, pointed out that the data from this wallet experiment indicates that people are generally too pessimistic about the kindness of others. He emphasized that living in a place where people feel cared for leads to greater happiness.
The World Happiness Report ranks countries based on how happy their citizens feel. For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, scoring an average of 7.736 out of 10. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have dropped in the rankings, now sitting at 23rd and 24th, respectively, which is the lowest position for the US ever.
The report also noted that Costa Rica and Mexico have made it into the top ten for the first time. The rankings are based on a three-year average of how people rate their lives on a scale from zero to ten.
The top ten happiest countries are:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
In addition to the wallet study, the report found several other interesting trends. It noted a decline in happiness and trust in the US and parts of Europe, which may be linked to growing political divisions. Sharing meals with others was identified as a strong factor for wellbeing, and living in households of four to five people was associated with higher happiness levels in both Mexico and Europe.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, emphasized that happiness is deeply connected to trust and social connections. He urged individuals to take action to foster kindness and civility in their communities.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of bringing people together, especially during times of isolation and division. Overall, the findings suggest that fostering trust and kindness can lead to greater happiness for individuals and communities alike.