In his book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, Dan Buettner explores four places identified by researchers as world leaders in happiness—pockets around the globe where people report more happiness, enjoyment, interest, and respect. Take a tour of these happiness hot spots (Denmark, Singapore, Mexico, and San Luis Obispo, California) in this photo gallery, and discover some of the secrets of thrivers.
A woman rides a bicycle on one of Copenhagen’s wide, double bike lanes. According to the World Database of Happiness, Denmark is the second happiest country in the world (behind Costa Rica). Thrive author Dan Buettner attributes part of this satisfaction to walkable, bikeable cities. Recreation, including high-quality parks, is accessible to everyone. Though Denmark’s marginal tax rate is high, surveys show Danes tolerate it for the payoff: public services that include health care for all and free education. Danes also benefit from trust in their public officials, as well in their neighbours, with whom they share a sense of equality about social status.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Young women spend time together on a beach in Sønderborg in southern Denmark. As part of a wealthy society, Danes are able to slow down—they take an average of six weeks of vacation a year and work a 37-hour week. This allows them to enjoy the finer things, such as music and art, which contributes to their overall satisfaction with life.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Singapore’s Marina Barrage beckons Sunday strollers. Researchers say the island city-state of 5.1 million people is the happiest country in Asia. What makes this densely populated, ethnically mixed country with strict government oversight happy? Buettner cites security and rapid economic growth as the primary forces. Also important are status equality, strong ties to family, and an environment of trust between groups that follow different religions and cultural traditions.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Couples in Singapore gather for Movies on the Beach, a government-sponsored event designed to promote love. Public programs—from litter-prevention campaigns to grants for studying abroad—are common in Singapore. So too are strict laws, with many crimes punishable by caning or hanging. Yet Singaporeans have accepted broad limits on their personal freedom in return for stability and safety. For them, happiness and success have become tightly intertwined.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Located in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, Monterrey is a particular pocket of happiness in a country that already ranks high in happiness studies. This is despite rampant crime, including assassinations, kidnappings for ransom, and the murders of hundreds of police each year in ongoing drug wars. Lack of confidence in the police and government is widespread.
But even while coping with such realities, Mexicans continue to experience high levels of well-being. In his research, Buettner found that strong relationships with friends and family, supercharged faith in their church, and a remarkable capacity to laugh in the face of hardship are some of the qualities that have lifted Mexicans above all but a few nations in happiness rankings.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Children in Monterrey light candles in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe. In this region of northern Mexico, a combination of indigenous influences meshed with Christian beliefs has yielded a more uplifting faith than that commonly found elsewhere, helping people cope with hardship.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
The 18th-century Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa still anchors the town built around it. Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the California coast, San Luis Obispo benefits from planning that maximizes quality of life: pedestrian-friendly streets, short commutes, attractive public spaces, fresh foods and local wines, and a thriving arts scene that includes a city orchestra. Self-employed workers make up nearly a quarter of the population, and residents rank in the upper third of the country for happiness at their jobs. Civic involvement is also high, with almost one in four residents donating their time to nonprofits.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
Cyclists ride a trail through a field of wildflowers outside San Luis Obispo. The city’s surrounding natural beauty is aggressively protected, with housing growth limited to 1 percent each year. The city also raises money to purchase nearby green spaces. Such policies have helped to eliminate suburban sprawl and maximize access to outdoor recreation. Residents and visitors enjoy easy access to hiking and mountain-biking trails, wildlife preserves, and parks.
—Text adapted from the National Geographic book Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way
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