PORT OF SPAIN--A United Nations (UN) report says Trinidad and Tobago is the happiest Caribbean nation on earth – at least when compared to a handful of other regional countries surveyed for the 2018 World Happiness Report.
The twin-island republic ranks 38th among 156 countries and is the highest placed Caribbean country in the report, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network ahead of World Happiness Day next Tuesday.
The only other Caribbean Community Caricom nations in the happiness rankings were Belize, which placed 49th; Jamaica which was in position 56; and Haiti which at 148 is ranked as the unhappiest country in the Caribbean.
Finland has overtaken Norway to become the happiest nation on earth, while the US has slipped five places down to 18th.
The East African nation of Burundi, scarred by bouts of ethnic cleansing, civil wars and coup attempts, is the unhappiest place in the world, according to the report.
Countries were ranked based on six key variables that support well-being: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support and generosity.
