Photographs: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters
Many factors are taken into account when ranking the happiness of a country. While wealth obviously plays a major part, other important reasons are perception of corruption, freedom, social support, generosity and healthcare.
Let's take a look at some of the happiest nations, according to World Happiness Report, 2013.
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Image: A boy shakes his head to remove coloured powder while celebrating Holi in Agartala.Photographs: Jayanta Dey/Reuters
India
Happiness score: 4.772
Overall rank: 111 out of 156
India is ranked a lowly 111 maybe because the tough economic situation has made the outlook bleak. Other factors in play could be rise in corruption cases, deteriorating infrastructure and bad governance.
Click NEXT to see some of the happiest nations...
Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...
Image: A dog sits as he waits next to his owner to cross a street in Copenhagen, Denmark.Photographs: Radu Sigheti/Reuters
Denmark
Happiness score: 7.693
Overall rank: 1
Denmark, one of the wealthiest economies in the world, enjoys the top spot primarily due to its excellent infrastructure, safety net, good governance and social equality.
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Image: Royal Palace at the end of Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.Photographs: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters
Norway
Happiness score: 7.655
Overall rank: 2
Norway, which has some of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world, is one of the least unequal countries, provides excellent governance and enjoys low corruption.
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Image: A view of Geneva and Lake Leman, Switzerland.Photographs: Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Switzerland
Happiness score: 7.650
Overall rank: 3
Switzerland, which attracts some of the richest investors in the world, is a stable, prosperous and competitive country.
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Image: People sit on a quay at the Leliegracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Photographs: Michael Kooren/Reuters
The Netherlands
Happiness score: 7.512
Overall rank: 4
The Netherlands, one of the richest economies in the world, is an open society, has low corruption and world-class healthcare.
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Image: A view of Stockholm, Sweden.Photographs: Ints Kalnins/Reuters
Sweden
Happiness score: 7.480
Overall rank: 5
Sweden, one of the most liberal countries, has excellent infrastructure, good governance and low corruption.
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Image: Snowboarders ride a chair lift on one of the many snow runs during night skiing on Grouse Mountain with the city of Vancouver, British Columbia down below, Canada.Photographs: Andy Clark/Reuters
Canada
Happiness score: 7.477
Overall rank: 6
Canada, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is witnessing a boom in economy.
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Image: Tourists take part in the reindeer safari at Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, northern Finland.Photographs: Kacper Pempel/Reuters
Finland
Happiness score: 7.389
Overall rank: 7
Finland, one of the most developed countries in the world, is constantly ranked high in Human Development Index.
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Image: Tourists photograph each other in the Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt.Photographs: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters
Austria
Happiness score: 7.369
Overall rank: 8
Austria, one of the most prosperous countries in the world, has world-class infrastructure, competitive economy and excellent healthcare.
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Image: Children skate on the ice of the frozen Tjoernin lake in central Reykjavik, Iceland.Photographs: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters
Iceland
Happiness score: 7.355
Overall rank: 9
Iceland, which has a population of 320,000, is a free-market economy with low corporate taxes.
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Image: Large whale-shaped kites and others fly above a crowd gathered for the Festival of the Winds on Sydney's Bondi Beach, Australia.Photographs: David Gray/Reuters
Australia
Happiness score: 7.350
Overall rank: 10
Australia, the 12th-largest economy in the world, is also one of the wealthiest.
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Image: A view of Tel Aviv with the Mediterranean Sea in the background, Israel.Photographs: Nir Elias/Reuters
Israel
Happiness score: 7.301
Overall rank: 11
Israel, whose financial center is Tel Aviv, has the highest standard of living in the Middle East.
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Image: Red Metal Church in Grecia, Costa Rica.Photographs: Juan Carlos Ulate/Reuters
Costa Rica
Happiness score: 7.257
Overall rank: 12
Costa Rica, which has been ranked as the greenest country in the world, has a good record on Human Development Index.
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Image: A view of Auckland, New Zealand.Photographs: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
New Zealand
Happiness score: 7.221
Overall rank: 13
New Zealand, whose major exports are dairy products, meat and wine, enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world.
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Image: Motorists drive along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Photographs: Mosab Omar/Reuters
United Arab Emirates
Happiness score: 7.144
Overall rank: 14
United Arab Emirates, which holds one of the biggest reserves of oil and gas, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
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Image: Vehicles drive on a street around the centre of Panama City, Panama.Photographs: Henry Romero/Reuters
Panama
Happiness score: 7.143
Overall rank: 15
Panama, which earns a lot from Panama Canal, is one of the fastest growing economies in Central America.
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Image: A view of downtown Mexico City, Mexico.Photographs: Tomas Bravo/Reuters
Mexico
Happiness score: 7.088
Overall rank: 16
Mexico, one of the largest economies in the world, carries out most of its trade with the United States.
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Image: Pedestrians sit in a viewing area on the High Line park in New York City, United States.Photographs: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
United States
Happiness score: 7.082
Overall rank: 17
United States, the biggest economy in the world, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the globe.
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Image: A woman cycles past the 'Coffee To Get Her' restaurant near Dublin city centre which becomes a bar and club in the evenings, Ireland.Photographs: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters
Ireland
Happiness score: 7.076
Overall rank: 18
Ireland, which is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is highly ranked for press, economic and political freedom.
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Image: Petrusse River near old fortifications of the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.Photographs: Laurent Dubrule/Reuters
Luxembourg
Happiness score: 7.054
Overall rank: 19
Luxembourg, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, has a population of 524,853.
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Image: People have a drink at 360, a three-tiered rooftop bar, in Caracas, Venezuela.Photographs: Jorge Silva/Reuters
Venezuela
Happiness score: 7.039
Overall rank: 20
Venezuela, which has huge gas and oil reserves, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
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Image: People rest in the Parc du Cinquantenaire of Brussels, Belgium.Photographs: Sebastien Pirlet/Reuters
Belgium
Happiness score: 6.967
Overall rank: 21
Belgium, which has a population of 11 million, is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
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Image: A view of Piccadilly Circus in central London, United Kingdom.Photographs: Olivia Harris/Reuters
United Kingdom
Happiness score: 6.883
Overall rank: 22
United Kingdom, one of the main financial centres of the world, is one of the developed countries in the world.
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Image: Sea water shoots out of a crevice in the rocks, known as a 'Blowhole', in Mughsail Beach in Salalah, Oman.Photographs: Randolph Caguintuan/Reuters
Oman
Happiness score: 6.853
Overall rank: 23
Oman, whose economy relies to a large extent on oil, fishing and agriculture, is one of the most developed and stable countries in the Middle East.
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Image: Tourists take pictures with the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in the background in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Brazil
Happiness score: 6.849
Overall rank: 24
Brazil, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is a major manufacturing and export powerhouse.
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Image: An aerial view shows the Arc de Triomphe, centre, and rooftops of residential buildings in Paris, France.Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters
France
Happiness score: 6.764
Overall rank: 25
France, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, provides excellent healthcare, social security and infrastructure.
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