The 10 Happiest Countries in the World, And What Makes Them So Special? (2 of 6)

2. Denmark

There’s a word in Danish called hygge, which loosely translates in English to “a sense of coziness and well-being.” The reason Danes are so content comes down to their ability to trust and rely on each other, their deeply ingrained work-life balance, and…bicycles. Yes, bicycles. They are the transportation of choice in Copenhagen, and the content locals who ride them give off a joyful buzz not unlike a happy honeybee. Once you visit this remarkable place, you might not want to leave.

3. Iceland

There are plenty of reasons why Icelanders are so happy. Unlike in the US, where health care and the cost of a college degree can literally bankrupt you, these things are free in Iceland. And as the capital, Reykjavik, Iceland certainly has the atmosphere of a village where everyone is familiar with one another. But it is the peoples’ connection to nature—the country’s waterfalls, geothermal springs, and alien planet terrain—along with the way they embrace free-spiritedness and creativity that sets them apart.