Jackie Carmichael, Westerly News

… According to the World Happiness Report, six things account for threequarters of how happy people are – and the Danes got ’em.

So says University of British Columbia economics professor John Helliwell.

Among the happiest countries, a high per-capita GDP, a healthy life expectancy and a lack of corruption in leadership were among the factors out of individual control.

But according to a Huffington Post article posted by Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne, three things help make Danish citizens happy, the report said: social support, freedom of life choices and a culture of generosity.

The report identified supports such as parental leave policies, free or low-cost child care, gender equality, a healthy lifestyle with lots of bike riding (half of Copenhagen residents ride to work or school) and a health care system that’s a civil right and that people know how to use well for wellness.