Which is the happiest country in the world for people over 60, according to a global report

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For the seventh consecutive year, Finland obtained first place overall in happiness at all ages (Illustrative image Infobae)

In it World Report of the happiest countries in the world, describes how this state of well-being manifests itself, according to data from 143 countries. For the seventh year in a row, Finland took first place overall. While the happiest country in the world for those under 30 years of age was LithuaniaFor those over 60, “paradise” is in Denmark.

The 2024 edition of the report, carried out by the alliance between the Gallup pollster, the University of Oxford and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, focused on the happiness of people at different stages of life, with a look focused on the well-being of young people.

In relation to the nations of Latin America, none were among the first in the ranking. However, Argentina went from 52nd to 48th place in 2023.

The report points out six essential variables for happiness: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom of choice, generosity and lack of corruption – (Illustrative Image Infobae)

Denmark has held the highest positions in happiness for several years for several reasons. The country ranked first among people over 60 and second in the overall ranking (behind only Finland). Experts say there are also certain behaviors and beliefs that fuel joy in the country.

“In the Seven Ages of Man in Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It,’ the later stages of life are described as deeply depressing. But research on happiness shows a more nuanced picture that is changing over time,” they say in the report, based on six key variables for happiness:

• GDP per capita
• Healthy life expectancy
• Have someone to count on
• Freedom to make life decisions
• Generosity
• The lack of corruption

Occupying second place overall and first among those over 60, Denmark demonstrates that certain behaviors and beliefs contribute significantly to happiness (Illustrative image Infobae)

According to the report, the happiest countries for those over 60 are:

Costa Rica ranks 17th and is first in America in post-60 happiness, in addition to being considered one of the best places to live when you retire. They are followed by Uruguay in 24th place, Brazil in 37th, Argentina in 45th place.

10% of our happiness is related to external events, while 50% is genetically determined and 40% depends on our actions. Social interaction is one of the keys – (illustrative image infobae)

According to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, a researcher at Harvard University and a doctorate at Stanford, there is a tendency to look for happiness in the wrong places, since what you think will really make a big difference, in reality it is not, and is They overlook the true sources of well-being.

In her book: “The science of happiness, a proven method to achieve well-being”, the researcher stated that this is not related to a stroke of luck, nor to the accumulation of material goods. According to research, only 10% of the happiness It is related to external events. Of the remaining percentage, 50% would be given by genetic conditions and 40% depends on the activities that we can carry out intentionally, that is, happiness is in our hands.

As described by experts, the Danish people would agree with this way of seeking happiness: in the little things. What are the factors that make those over 60 in the Scandinavian country happy? The following points:

• Care and basic needs covered. “I think the evidence is pretty clear… you’re more likely to be happy if you live in a welfare state than if you don’t,” said Søren Harnow Klausen, a professor of philosophy in the Department of Cultural Studies at the University of Southern Denmark to Huffington Post.

Attention to basic needs, financial solidity, long life expectancy, low levels of corruption, and the importance of personal relationships are factors that explain high happiness in Denmark (Illustrative image Infobae)

In Denmark, education, including university, is free, as is health care and nursing home residence, Klausen said.

In addition, all elderly Danes have their basic needs covered by a government pension, Lars Larsen, a professor in the department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Aarhus University, added to Huffington Post.

The expert said Denmark is financially sound, has a long life expectancy and low levels of corruption, allowing people to also have a higher base of happiness.

Larsen explained: “It is more difficult to be happy if others are not happy and that is why we see that some rich nations do not obtain scores as high as would be expected,” the expert mentioned.

The Danes know how to satisfy their internal desires and needs, which is why they are among the happiest (Illustrative image Infobae)

In general, most people are more happy at an early and late age, which is usually illustrated as a “U”. “Which means you’re less happy in the middle of life and happier at the beginning and end of life,” Larsen said.

When older people’s basic needs are met, as is the case in Denmark, they feel happy, he said. “Why is that? Maybe it’s because they are free from many of the responsibilities and stresses experienced in middle age,” Larsen said, such as raising young children, caring for elderly parents or worrying about work.

“And as people get older, they generally place more importance on remembering the positive aspects of their lives and less importance on the negative ones,” Larsen said. Research also shows that older people develop a greater degree of resilience to cope with losses and diagnoses of chronic diseases that become more common in old age.

• They prioritize things they find rewarding. “In general, what satisfies people the most and gives them the most happiness are the so-called intrinsic goods,” Klausen said. These are things that satisfy a person’s inner wants and needs, and not necessarily something that helps them move forward in life.

As the years go by, the perception of well-being changes and a greater state of fulfillment in life can be achieved (Illustrative image Infobae)

“What has intrinsic value is also something like developing or living your own interests, not something you are forced to do, but what you really like to do yourself,” Klausen said. This could mean traveling, hiking, going to museums, or anything that people might enjoy.

Having the freedom to do what they want is part of this too. “When you get rid of some responsibilities, it’s easier to maintain freedom,” Larsen said. When seniors don’t have to focus on work or caring for children or sick parents, they can spend their time however they want.

• They foster good relationships and eliminate bad ones. “They don’t want to waste time on less rewarding relationships or hear more nonsense,” Klausen described. “And I think you can cultivate a mindset that makes you focus more on what really has intrinsic value, like deep personal relationships.”

Las research show that having close relationships plays an important role in well-being and overall life satisfaction. Having meaningful relationships can even lower your risk of depression.

Developing or living one’s interests is one of the keys to Danish happiness (Illustrative image Infobae)

• They are not overly ambitious, and that can be a good thing. In many cultures, it’s normal to want more, more, more (just think of the idea of ​​the American dream!), but that’s not the case in Denmark, Klausen explained. And he added that in Danish culture it is normal to work to improve yourself and the things around you, but up to a certain point.

“You also have to relax a little and take it easy,” Klausen said, adding that this mentality is sometimes criticized and can have its drawbacks, but it also seems to pay off in terms of happiness.

• It is a society that has trust. People know they can trust their neighbors and the authorities; The same cannot be said for many other places in the world. Distrust “doesn’t lead to happiness, it probably also leads to anger and anxiety,” Klausen said.

Having a more relaxed and jovial attitude is part of the Danish DNA and key to their happiness (Illustrative image Infobae)

“I think what happiness is made of are emotions. It’s not so much about experiences, at least not the spectacular ones… much more important are the underlying and lasting emotions,” Klausen said.

“You can do an assessment of your own emotions, and then begin to redesign both your day and your immediate environment to strengthen positive emotions and combat negative ones,” Klausen explained.

Working to make positive emotions shine through each day will be an individual task and will surely lead to a little bit of Danish happiness.