THE SHARED VALUES THAT HELP MAKE DENMARK A HUB OF JOY
What we can all learn from nation that consistently ranks in the top five in happiness index
Malene Rydahl did not realise she had been born into what is considered one of the world’s happiest countries until she moved from Denmark to Paris to become a nanny at the age of 18.
She soon found that values she had taken for granted at home, such as innate trust in and respect for others, independence, and good work-life balance, were not so widely embraced.
She struggled to regain her happiness, and, in doing so, realised that it could be self-taught and came from within.
In 2017, she published the bestseller, Happy As a Dane: 10 Secrets of the Happiest People in the World.
Since The World Happiness Report was first published in 2012, Rydahl’s home country has always appeared in the top five happiest countries, usually with the other Nordic countries of Norway, Finland and Iceland.
The report, published by the United Nations, draws on data mainly from the Gallup World Poll, based on respondents’ ratings of their own happiness.
In the most recent report, published in 2023, Hong Kong ranked 82 out of 150 countries and territories; its ranking has been moving lower since the report’s debut, when the city ranked 64th.
“There is a collective fantasy about happiness, that it is some kind of permanent state,” Rydahl says ahead of the International Day of Happiness today.
That is an illusion, she says. “Life is unpredictable and full of surprises, good and bad. The key is to return to what I call your own foundation of well-being.”
Rydahl shared the 10 values some of the happiest people on the planet espouse. Living in a particular country will not make you happy, but what you have inside of you will. So even if your country ranks low in the happiness index, there is no reason you cannot attain a 10/10 score yourself.
There is a collective fantasy about happiness, that it is some kind of permanent state
MALENE RYDAHL, AUTHOR
1. Trust
A study in 2012 showed Danes boast the highest level in the world of trusting people. People with greater levels of trust are more inclined to perceive they have better control over their lives and better life chances, a report from the Nordic Council of Ministers says. Trust is seen as important in promoting engagement in society, reducing criminality and increasing individual happiness.
2. Education
Denmark’s education system is tailored to develop the personality and skills of each student, not to create an elite. Education is free and accessible to all. The system also encourages children to think for themselves and form opinions. The 28-member intergovernmental Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says that the human brain learns better when people experiment, participate and make their own suggestions rather than receiving knowledge passed down. Problem solving, creativity and innovation, collaboration and communication, are qualities sought after by employers. While the results of the Danish school system may not result in the highest performing students, the well-being fostered is one of the world’s best.
3. Freedom and independence
Carving out your own path in life is worth freeing yourself from a life imposed upon you by society, family or conventions. In Denmark, young people’s independence is also facilitated by the student grant system, which awards them a grant regardless of their family’s financial situation. This gives them the freedom to choose what to study without being dependent on their parents.
4. Equal opportunity
Denmark is not the best place to get rich, partly as it has a tax system that redistributes earnings, an education system that does not favour high achievers, and a culture that does not put money first. But according to a study by the OECD, it is a lot easier to climb the social ladder in Scandinavian countries than in France, Italy, Britain or even the US. The Danish system seeks to reduce the gap between the lowest and the highest income earners, and with universal access to education, children from less privileged families have a better chance of going on to higher education.
5. Realistic expectations
Danes love the simple things in life. They rarely have great ambitions of material wealth; instead they simply take life as it comes. Since Danes do not expect to be the best, to win accolades or be admired by others, they are more satisfied with the status quo. If they are lucky or talented enough to win something, the pleasure is multiplied by a thousand.
6. Solidarity and respect for others
In surveys, Danes show they are committed to the welfare state and that they are willing to fund it through taxation. This is despite that tax revenue as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) in Denmark is the highest in the world at 50.9 per cent.
7. Work-life balance
On average, Danish people devote about 67 per cent of their day to personal activities, or about 16 hours, compared with the OECD average of 15 hours – making it the leader in work-life balance.
Rush hour in Denmark is from 4pm to 5pm, when people are leaving work to either pick up their children or do things they enjoy. Family and leisure time in general are important. Danes eat dinner around 6pm and the whole family dines together, in contrast with other cultures where children eat first and parents later.
8. Money
Danes are quite relaxed with money. For most, being rich is not a priority; they are happy with what they have got. Danes do not give the impression of being caught up in the rat race for money. They feel already well taken care of thanks to the welfare system, and have other priorities such as finding a meaningful job or personal fulfilment. Success is not synonymous with financial success.
9. Modesty
For the Danes, enjoying yourself and having fun is more important than winning. Danish modesty can be found everywhere, from brewer Carlsberg’s slogan, “Probably the best beer in the world”, to the “roligans” – Danish football fans (rolig meaning calm or peaceful).
10. Gender equality
In Denmark, people are free to choose the right role for themselves without worrying about stereotypes or taboos. Growing up, there is an absence of gender stereotypes, which encourages children to develop naturally and pursue what they enjoy, not what society expects them to. Women are as free as men to pursue sex as they wish. Maternity leave is a joint matter extended to 52 weeks in total, which can be shared more or less as the couple wishes.