The Country With The Happiest Children Is Not Where You'd Think | HuffPost Life

Where Are The Happiest Children In The World?

Amy Packham— The Huffington Post UK

We like to think our children are the happiest they can be, but are they the happiest in the world?

New research completed by Goethe University surveyed 53,000 children between the ages of 10 and 12 to see just how happy they were.

15 countries took part in the survey... and the UK didn't come out on top. Romania did.

The top spot was shortly followed by cheerful kids in Colombia, Israel third and Algeria fourth. The UK came in second from last.

The report surveyed children on their home and family life, money and possessions, friends and relationships, school, their local area and their own self.

Children were given questionnaires and were also asked about psychological wellbeing as well as overall satisfaction.

The researchers concluded overall that generally children were more satisfied with their family and friendships than with other aspects of their lives such as school and their local area.

SEE ALSO:
Why Dutch People Are Among The Happiest In The World
Teenagers Are Actually Happier Than Their Parents (No Joke)

There were variations between countries. In the three African countries surveyed, school was more prominent among the aspects that children were most satisfied with.

Differences between girls and boys were looked at, and while girls tended to be more positive about their school lives, boys placed more happiness on playing sport and exercising.

The most notable differences in gender were revealed in the children's answers to questions about their view of themselves. In five European countries and South Korea, girls were significantly less satisfied with their appearance and body than boys.

So from happiest to children to least happy children, here are how the countries ranked.

Romania

Colombia

Israel

Algeria

Turkey

Norway

Estonia

Spain

Germany

Ethiopia

South Africa

Nepal

Poland

United Kingdom

South Korea

Expert Tips on Growing Global Happiness

His Holiness the Dalai Lama(01 of52)

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” (credit:Getty)

Jamie Gruman, Chair of the Canadian Association of Positive Psychology(02 of52)

“One effective way to produce a happy brain is to turn your thoughts to others. Research consistently shows that acts of kindness and generosity have beneficial effects of people's well-being. So, while on your lunch break, consider buying a sandwich for the homeless man on the corner. Back at the office, consider surprising a colleague with an unexpected compliment about the quality of her work. Hug your kids extra hard when you get home, tell them how they've changed your life, and see how big a smile you can elicit. Then watch for the surge of vitality you'll feel. It turns out that doing things for other people may be one of the best ways to help promote our own success in life.” (credit:Getty)

John Helliwell, co-editor of the World Happiness Report (03 of52)

“Create happiness in ways that catch on: start a chain of cascading generosity by paying for the coffee of the two people behind you in line, and invite these beneficiaries to do the same for others. Such chains have sometimes lasted a long time, showing how rewarding, and infectious, generosity can be.” (credit:Getty)

Former British prime minister William Gladstone(04 of52)

“Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness.” (credit:Getty)

Buddha(05 of52)

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” (credit:Getty)

Chinese Proverb(06 of52)

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.” (credit:Getty)

Andrew Sharpe, Executive Director of Canada’s Centre for the Study of Living Standards(07 of52)

“A key determinant of happiness is a strong sense of community and belonging, which can be provided through colleagues, friends, and family. Despite everyday pressures and stresses, it is very important to take time to connect with people.” (credit:Getty)

12 Tips For Happiness in 2015(08 of52)

Altruism(09 of52)

"Altruism is proven to help focus beyond ourselves and enable us to be more connected with the world around us. In 2015, find local charities, sports clubs or community organisations where you can donate your time - you might even start new friendships with local people."

Be kind(10 of52)

"Set yourself a weekly target for acts of kindness for friends, family, colleagues and strangers on the street. This will further increase your connection to the outside world."

Play to your strengths(11 of52)

"Identifying your strengths and focus on developing these, either in work or a hobby. This will encourage you to become immersed in what you do and find life more gratifying."

Work (12 of52)

"Work makes you happier. It provides routine, structure and self-worth. Make sure you are in a job you enjoy. If you are not, make finding one that you do a priority for this year."

Independence(13 of52)

"Personal control in work makes you happier; there is better life satisfaction for those earning less but in control of their working practice than those who are richer but have less control."

Relationships and Friendships(14 of52)

"Those with close relationships are happiest – try to see friends and family more in the New Year. Research shows the closer people live to their friends, the happier they are – make new friends close to where you live. Get to know your neighbours better, try joining sports groups or taking up a hobby close to your home."

Focus on the positives(15 of52)

"Improving happiness levels can depend on how we focus our attention – being attentive and focusing on one positive task helps us to enjoy the moment."

Positive Memory(16 of52)

"Those who are happier remember bad events in a more positive light – it is possible to focus on particular aspects of a memory to notice the positives more than negatives."

Gratitude Diary(17 of52)

"You can retrain your mind to focus on the good things that happen rather than the bad. Stop taking your blessings for granted by keeping a gratitude diary. Every day for 6 weeks jot down 5 things that happened that day for which you are grateful."

Meditate(18 of52)

"Regular meditation can help with positive mental health."

Say ‘Thank You’(19 of52)

"Expressing your gratitude for someone’s actions is the single most effective exercise in positive psychology. Saying thank you to even small acts and gestures will help improve gratitude levels."

Use Technology Less(20 of52)

"The less time you spend on using technology, the more you can carry out activities that help you engage with the world around you.”

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Smile.(36 of52)

A 2011 study showed that thinking about something positive that makes you smile can actually make you happier (fake smiles don't do the trick), while 2003 Clark University research found that smiling activates positive memories. (credit:Gettystock)

Go for a run.(37 of52)

Physical activity boosts the brain's release of endorphins, feel-good neurotransmitters that can improve mood and well-being. (credit:Gettystock)

Pray.(38 of52)

Spirituality and religious involvement is linked with greater well-being and happiness, according to a review of more than 300 studies on the connection between spirituality and health, while prayer is thought to relieve stress. (credit:Gettystock)

Laugh.(39 of52)

In addition to relieving stress, laughter can boost mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. (credit:Gettystock)

Go for a stroll in the park. (40 of52)

There are many health benefits to spending time in nature, including, perhaps, increased well-being. One UK study showed that subjects were significantly happier when in natural environments as compared to when they were in urban environments. (credit:Gettystock)

Perform an act of kindness.(41 of52)

Do something nice for someone else today -- it could make you happier, according to University of California research. (credit:Gettystock)

Listen to happy music.(42 of52)

Students who listened to "happy" music while making a concerted effort to feel happier experienced elevations in mood, according to a small study published this year in the Journal of Positive Psychology. (credit:Gettystock )

Walk tall.(43 of52)

Walking with an upbeat stride might make you feel happier, according to Florida Atlantic University research. In the study, walkers who were told to take long strides with their arms swinging and heads held high reported feeling happier after a three-minute jaunt than a group that shuffled and looked downwards while walking. (credit:Gettystock)

Meditate.(44 of52)

Meditation may be helpful in lowering stress levels and reducing symptoms of mild depression, and has been linked with emotional well-being and improved sleep. (credit:Gettystock)

Keep a gratitude journal. (45 of52)

Be thankful for what you have! A number of studies have found a strong correlation between gratitude and well-being, starting at a young age. Teaching kids gratitude in schools has been linked to boosts in positive emotions and optimism. (credit:Gettystock)

Go on vacation.(46 of52)

The mere anticipation of an upcoming trip can boost overall happiness for up to eight weeks before you take off, according to a 2010 Dutch study. (credit:Gettystock)

Play with a puppy. (47 of52)

Your brain may be wired to enjoy playing with puppies. One study suggested that petting a furry friend can increase activity in the left-side of the brain, which is associated with pleasure and happiness, and pet ownership has been linked with increased well-being. (credit:Gettystock)

Take a nap.(48 of52)

Sleep deprivation can up your stress levels. One experiment showed that after memorizing a list of words, sleep-deprived college students could remember 81 percent of words with a negative connotation ("cancer"), and only 41 percent of positive or neutral words ("sunshine"). What's more, researchers have linked catnaps with improved mood. (credit:Gettystock)

Enjoy a nice cup of tea.(49 of52)

Noticing and appreciating life's small pleasures can literally rewire the brain for happiness by shifting the brain's negativity bias, according to psychologist Rick Hanson, author of Hardwiring Happiness. "We're surrounded by opportunities -- 10 seconds here or 20 seconds there -- to just register useful experiences and learn from them," Hanson told The Huffington Post. (credit:Gettystock)

Volunteer. (50 of52)

Helping others could go a long way towards helping yourself. A recent University of Exeter study found that volunteering can boost happiness, ease depression and even help you live longer, Everyday Health reported. (credit:Gettystock)

Have sex.(51 of52)

Sex might just help you relieve stress and boost well-being. A study by the Institute For The Study of Labor found that people who have sex at least four times a week tend to be happier and less depressed -- not to mention make more money. Plus, it could even keep your heart and immune system healthy! (credit:Gettystock)

Think of happy times.(52 of52)

Feeling nostalgic about the past can make you feel happier and more optimistic about the future, according to a recent University of Southampton study. (credit:Gettystock)

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