The Real Reason Finns Are So Happy

When UnPopulist Senior Producer Landry Ayres moved to Finland three years ago, he'd heard it was the happiest country in the world as deemed by the UN's World Happiness Report (WHR), but had also heard that this title was...suspect, to put it politely. Both Finns and Americans he spoke to doubted the validity of the report's findings, whether it be based on their exposure to stereotypical Finnish introversion, or their aversion to the concept of an objective "happiness" ranking.
Yet, for the past seven years, without fail, on March 20 (the UN's International Day of Happiness), Finland has been come out on top and been awarded the title. Landry wanted to know why and how: why Finland continues to come out on top so consistently, and how do we even measure how happy a nation is?
While there are valid critiques one can level at the WHR, its findings continue to identify something exceptional about the Nordic nations' ability to foster satisfied populations. Landry was pleasantly surprised to discover that, contrary to simplistic and surface-level explanations, Nordic liberalism clearly explains how Finland and its neighbors top the charts year to year.
His latest video attempts to guide you through the same journey his research took him on; from the WHR’s methodology and findings, through common arguments for doubting them, and ultimately to a place where we can hopefully all take away something that allows us to live peaceful, fulfilling, contented lives.
View it below or on KZbin (and subscribe to our KZbin channel), and after watching, tell us: what does happiness mean to you?

[@mikitz]

Replace 'happiest' with 'the most content' and there you go.

[@gaarakabuto1]

Best way i explain it to people is that Finland is the place that allows you to be happy, but doesnt make you happy by default. Coming from a southern country that is directly connected with hospitality and cheerfulness, even though you can get quite a lot of intense and heartwarming moments, the vast majority is depressed and in a bad situation all year around.

[@cubicajupiter]

As a finn, i appreciate you explaining this to us as well :P

[@Tyrisalthan]

Wow, what a great video! This explains brilliantly what most finns already intuitively know. I must link this video whenever the topic comes up online.

[@slimball1939]

Well that's what I call being happy. I would not want to live in a country where people are homeless or where people don't respect eachother. Trust eachother is important..

[@temenurminen]

Was surprised to see Landry on a different channel.

[@trikyy7238]

From 1 to 10, we don't think 10 is the absolute best kind of life. More like, this is the best I can get so 10 it is.

[@slimball1939]

If it's about smiling and looking happy, then all these African villages must be number one. We all have seen these happy childrem that's rolling some wheel with a wooden stick wit the most beautiful smile there is.. Just look backwards and see all the other children's that's running after your old Toyota Taxi... They must be the happiest in the world, for, sure

[@mattilahde5220]

I am generally happy. For me it's cheap rents even in Helsinki that allow me to use money on other things. Most western countrys have a housing crisis.

[@dino0228]

Sounds like the more purely capitalist a country is, the less likely the majority of people will be happy or satisfied with their lives. It’s too prone to corruption that keeps wealth in the hands of the few, and far more likely to be exploitative of the working class (minimum wages that don’t keep pace with inflation; benefits available only to those who work full-time), as well as competition that keeps racially and ethnically segregated communities from integrating; incentive for the wealthy to buy politicians who keep wealth taxes low - thus undermining faith and trust in them.

[@zoolkhan]

stop right there. this has nothing to do with capitalist county. Finnland is a capitalist country - but with much less corruption, and politicians not all working for some industry lobby. So decisions are made for the voters, surprise surprise. It also help to have a real democracy instead of a laughable binary system where you can choose between shit and manure. low corruption and equality - could theorhetically also happen in america. - you would just need to send the whole congress and house into retirement - and recruit idealists ; and allow each a campaign fund of 1000 dollars. ---- once that is doen stuff like social healthcare, cheaper education and equal opportunity would automatically follow. So, not the change of the system - but the enforcement of laws and elimination of corruption. Currently america german and venezuella is on the same level of corruption in my eyes. germany and the us just call it different "campaign fund" instead of bribing... same difference.

[@skasteve6528]

Corruption in Nordic countries is lower for many reasons, one of them being that everyone's tax records are available to the public.

[@leopartanen8752]

If you believe in a country with Santa Claus and happy people, you might believe that Finland exists. 🇫🇮

[@Redfizh]

Right wing politics, mainly heavy cutting looks like something evil but we have to see how finns were on a same board with reality. Finns did vote this, not because they would like cutting but of fear of tomorrow. Of course they will have to step on someones foot but majority want the debt away and have the life quality of early 2000. Honestly I didn't believe they could do it. surprised me.

[@pekkahagglund2381]

Dude,there is al ot sick puppies here! 15years florida open my eyes!

[@zoolkhan]

damn, we have our very own florida man. did you bring crack-, and oxi-epidemic with you as well as the great florida educationsystem and mass-homelessnes? At least our sick puppies get help.

[@user-Rocket-Fest]

Who Needs 3x reasons when One will do? Russia has stopped attacking them.

[@GregSteele-os8yp]

Of coarse they are happy,they are far away from New Zealand.

[@hawkingdawking4572]

New Zealand is great.