The Truth About Why Switzerland Is the World’s Happiest Place

Why is Switzerland the happiest country? Well, sure, Swiss chocolate helps, after all, who wouldn’t feel a little serotonin boost from a square of silky-smooth Lindt? But can high-class chocolatiers really be the reason behind an entire nation’s sense of wellbeing? According to the World Happiness Report, it’s a bit more complex than that.

In 2015,Switzerland claimed the top spot out of 158 European countries and beyond in the World Happiness Report, thanks to a mix of economic and social factors that contribute to the Swiss people's overall life satisfaction. The report considers measures such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, mental health, freedom to make life choices, and generosity—areas where the Swiss government has invested heavily.

For comparison, Australia ranked number 10, just behind New Zealand at number 9, with the top spots also occupied by Iceland (2), Denmark (3), Norway (4), Canada (5), Finland (6), Netherlands (7), and Sweden (8).

So what exactly makes the Swiss so content? I asked my cousin Melissa Madeira, an Australian expat living in Switzerland, how the Swiss approach their own happiness—and what national secrets might be hiding behind the natural beauty of those mountains, lakes, and immaculate public transportation that make up one of the happiest nations.

Swiss chocolate is synonymous with quality confectionery and as everyone who's ever justified eating all the Tim Tams knows, and eating chocolate releases endorphins into the brain, which is a big part of why they feel happy. and endorphins make you happy in life. While we're on the subject, cheese – that other foodstuff the Swiss are famous for – contains tryptophan, an amino acid that's been shown to lower and relieve stress as well as making you sleepy. Stress-free and happy? They're on to something here. Who knew the chemicals released by different foods could contribute to making Switzerland one of the happiest nations?

Despite the cheese and chocolate, the Swiss keep it lean as with one of the lowest obesity rates in Europe at 10 percent, compared to 28.3 percent of Australians, according to the OECD.

"The Swiss, in general, are quite sporty and are usually outdoors partaking in some sort of sport," Melissa notes.

Switzerland also has some of the lowest appointment waiting times, plus the International Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) are both headquartered in Geneva. Switzerland is also noted to offer high-quality mental health treatment, supporting the well being of Swiss people from a young age.

That famous song may be an Abba tune (Swedes), but it certainly rings true for the Swiss too – they're most franc-full thanks to the country's strong economy! A recent Le News article notes the Swiss median salary is around 75 percent higher than median pay in both the UK and US, and that the gap between the top 10 percent of salary earners and bottom 10 percent has shrunk.  For visitors, there's no getting away from the fact that Switzerland is expensive, says Melissa. However, the GDP per capita in Switzerland ranks the land of cheese and chocolate as number seven on the rankings of the highest GDP countries per capita., and meaning the Swiss can afford that precision Swiss timepiece or two thanks to a strong economy.

Switzerland is famously neutral and has not been involved in a war since 1847, although it does have mandatory military service.

“The thing I love most about Switzerland is that I feel safe and you really do feel secure,” Melissa says. "Children walk to school on their own from a young age and there is no concern that something bad will happen. Crime levels are low, and we aren't seen as a threat so the possibility of any terrorism occurring here is relatively slim at this stage."

Melissa mentions that most Swiss home have bunkers as a result of Cold War concerns, and that Switzerland has enough nuclear fallout shelters to accommodate its entire population, which is plenty peace of mind for the neutral Swiss! Hopefully they've stockpiled that chocolate to keep up their title as the happiest country...

Life sure is sweet in Switzerland. It’s no surprise that a new report highlights their happiness and ranks it as the happiest country.—there’s a strong sense of community, national pride, and a shared appreciation for quality of life. Melissa, who lives in Zurich, says the common belief that Switzerland is safe and clean absolutely holds true.

“Most places are very clean and everything, including public transport, runs on time," she agrees, highlighting the country’s famously reliable public transportation systems in cities like Zurich and Geneva.

"The other thing I love about Switzerland that makes me happy is the location and weather," she adds. "The weather really contributes to overall wellbeing. We have beautiful summers by the lake and beach, hiking in the mountains, and cycling. In winter, we have access to ski slopes right on our doorstep. Basically, we get the best of both worlds—every season brings something fun and exciting to look forward to, like hiking in summer and joining the ski community in Winter.” The breathtaking natural beauty of Switzerland is yet another reason it continues to be celebrated as the world's happiest country.

Education in Switzerland plays a key role in its ranking. With high-class institutions in cities like Geneva and Zurich, the Swiss education system is an example of how investment in learning and opportunity can uplift an entire society. Quality education fosters innovation, equality, and personal growth—just some of the many things that contribute to the well-being and satisfaction of Swiss citizens.

So not only are the citizens of Switzerland healthy, wealthy, and wise enough to stay out of conflicts (and yes, happy = chocolate), they also seem to be on track to live forever. As the happiest country, Switzerland offers strong social support systems and a positive sense of wellbeing that permeates its entire society. According to the WHO, the average life expectancy in Switzerland is 83 years—the same as Australia—which means even more time to enjoy chocolate-fuelled happiness.

1. Switzerland
2. Iceland
3. Denmark
4. Norway
5. Canada
6. Finland
7. Netherlands
8. Sweden
9. New Zealand
10. Australia