Money, says a study, may not have much to do with human happiness.
A survey of 65 countries, published by British magazine New Scientist, says that Nigerians are the happiest people on earth, followed by the Mexicans. Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico are close behind.
India has been ranked 21st in the world happiness index.
Nigeria, with an annual per capita gross national product of slightly over $300, ranks among the world's poorest as also the most corrupt countries.
By contrast Romanians, Russians, and Armenians are the unhappiest people of all the countries surveyed.
However, different countries and cultures give priority to varied factors while determining what constitutes happiness. For the Indians, family, society values and friends were the prime factors for being happy, while for the Americans, personal success, pride and self-esteem ranked topmost.
The Japanese, somewhat like the Indians, said that living up to family and society expectations constituted happiness.
The Pakistanis were just two slots behind the Indians and were ranked the 23rd happiest people.
Canada stood 11th, Australia 13th, the United States 15th, the United Kingdom 16th and Japan 20th.
The World Values Survey study was carried out in 1999-2001 and published for the first time by New Scientist. The survey is conducted once every four years, and tracks socio-cultural and political changes across the world.
The survey shows that natives of Latin America, western Europe and North America are much happier than their counterparts in Eastern Europe and Russia.
The survey fortifies the belief held by priests and monks that the desire for material goods suppresses happiness. In the developed world, happiness levels have more or less remained stagnant since the World War II, although there has been a tremendous rise in incomes in these nations. Except in Denmark, where people seem to have become more satisfied over the last thirty years.
The study says that the reason for the lack of rise in happiness levels in the developed world is linked to consumerism.
And yes, here's something more to think about. The survey shows that married people are happier than those who are single.
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