Finding the key to joy in Nordic countries

Big and small acts of kindness, solidarity and community spirit ensure the Nordic people remain content

- Teja Lele

Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway... there has to be a reason Nordic countries consistently rank at the top of the list of the world's happiest countries. It's well documented that the Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden—are among the world's most stable, prosperous and least corrupt. Happiness is inset into people's lives on account of high employment rates and salaries, an elevated standard of living, and strong political and civic freedom.

Even amid the pandemic, the Nordic countries ranked high on the happiness index, prompting Jeffrey D. Sachs, American economist and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, to state that year after year "life satisfaction is reported to be happiest in the social democracies of northern Europe".

Apart from the focus on social justice and gender equality, work-life balance and social trust, all the Nordic countries have their own philosophies and ways of living that help them lead more fruitful lives. The result? Significantly higher levels of contentment.

Denmark is known for its attention to hygge, which focuses on "coziness and comfortable conviviality", and aims to celebrate the simplest of pleasures, be it enjoying a home-cooked meal or enjoying a leisurely walk outdoors. "In Denmark, hygge is connected to a time of gathering, coziness, good company, and belonging to a group; it has a very strong social connotation. It would be sad to sit home alone to eat a big piece of cake," says Guxi Maria Abel, a tour guide in Copenhagen.

That spirit of kinship is also seen in the heart-warming Danish trend of fællesspisning or communal eating that uses the power of food to bring people together and build a sense of community. Apart from community centres and neighbourhoods, restaurants and cafes across Copenhagen now offer the chance to partake of communal meals.