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Switzerland 'Happiest Country', Afghanistan Among 'Least Happy' In UN Ranking


An man sells traditional sweets ahead of Afghan new year, Norouz, which was celebrated on March 21.
An man sells traditional sweets ahead of Afghan new year, Norouz, which was celebrated on March 21.

Switzerland is the happiest place to live, according to the 2015 World Happiness Report, while Afghanistan is one of the least happy nations.

Among 158 countries ranked, Uzbekistan scored the best out of the RFE/RL broadcast region at 44th place. Iran was ranked at 110, Ukraine at 111, Iraq at 112, Armenia at 127, and Afghanistan at 153.

Published on April 23 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report shows how average 2012-2014 life evaluations differed across the world.

The rankings are based on a Gallup World Poll, and are supplemented by measures of economic growth, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption.

The first rankings came out in 2011 after the UN General Assembly invited countries to better capture the pursuit of happiness and take it into account when developing their public policies.

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