Jacqueline Fanchini (Reporter)YOU would have thought with its classic sun, sea and sangria reputation that Spain would be one of the happiest places on earth.
But incredibly, the nation has lost out to wet and windy Blighty in a survey of the happiest countries in the world.
Spain came an alarming 62nd in the Happy Planet index – compiled by relocation website Movehub – while the UK came it at number 41.
The UK is also placed above Germany, Canada, Australia and the US.
Countries were judged according to three factors: life expectancy, wellbeing and its ecological footprint.
The reason many advanced nations – including Spain – scored lower than others, is due to their poor environmental record.
The map also doesn’t take into account internal inequality measures and human rights issues, which is why some countries like Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia feature so highly.
Of the 151 countries surveyed, Botswana was named and shamed as the gloomiest.
But some Spanish-speaking countries made the top 10, however, with seven Latin American states named, including Costa Rica which came in at number one.
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This must be number one in Silly Surveys. The criteria are meaningless. Of course “advanced countries” have a poor environmental record, they became advanced by raping the planet. As for “wellbeing”, that is subjective, impossible to measure. ” life expectancy” depends on universal health care. Any where with that in place will have plenty old folk.
Costs Rica number one? Bet even Costa Ricans don’t agree with that.
Derek, comment please. I know the UK is a better place, all Spain has going for it is the sun, good fruit and veg, can’t think of much else.
The criteria used in this survey was stupid and not a good way to measure happiness – having a long life does not guarantee happiness. If a sensible survey was to be carried out, the UK probably would rank higher than Spain now because Spain has deteriorated so dramatically over the past 7 years or so.
That said, I am sure the dimwitted Spanish ecologists who get off on demolishing rural homes are “happy”.
“wet and windy Blighty”
Amber weather alert for Andalucía last two days. Gets very wet and windy here in the winter too.