Happiest Countries in Which to Live Quiz

Answer: Belgium

Belgium borders Germany, Luxembourg, France, and the Netherlands. Nearly all of Belgium's population is urban-living. Its primary exports are automobiles, finished diamonds, food products, iron and steel, metals, petroleum products, plastics, and textiles.

Belgian holidays include Saint Nicholas Day, which is celebrated for the children of Belgium. Its most enjoyed sports include Association football and cycling, in which Belgians have earned many victories in the Tour de France.

Note: The 2008 Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) survey statistics are denoted by asterisks (*) at the conclusion of each answer.

*Satisfaction With Present Life: 76.3
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 75.5
*Unemployment Rate: 6.5%

Answer: Norway

In the 21st century, Norway has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Oil deposits were discovered in the early 1970s, creating an abundant and rich resource of gas fields. Some of Norway's key industries include chemicals, fishing, forests, hydropower, metals, minerals, mining, paper products, and the processing of food.

Oslo is not only the capital; it is Norway's largest city as well.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 76.5
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 84.3
*Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

Answer: New Zealand

The stunning and magnificent landscape of New Zealand has become the location of choice for film and television productions. Two box office movie hits, filmed in New Zealand, were the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy (2001-2003) and "The Last Samurai" (2003).

Its currency is the New Zealand dollar, but is sometimes called the Kiwi dollar, after the island's national iconic kiwi bird. The chief export is agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture. New Zealand also boasts a successful wine industry.

The adult literacy rate of New Zealand has been around ninety-nine percent for decades! Finally, New Zealanders participate in recreational sports, such as cricket, golf, horseracing, rugby, soccer, swimming, and tennis. November 1988 marked the first bungee jumping at Queenstown in the South Island, which has become a popular "extreme" sport worldwide.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 76.7
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 85.5
*Unemployment Rate: 4%

Answer: Switzerland

Located in Western Europe, Switzerland has not been at war since 1815! Although Bern is the capital, Zurich is its largest city. The Red Cross was founded in 1863, and the headquarters of the United Nations is located in Geneva.

Switzerland's most well-known and deadliest mountain is the legendary Matterhorn. It boasts the longest glacier, yet in its valley grow apricots, cherries, grapes, and tomatoes. Some important industries of this country are health and pharmaceutical, musical instruments, tourism, and international organizations. The prime goods exported from Switzerland are chemicals, electronics, machines, and precision instruments, such as Swiss watches. Additionally, the Swiss are known as one of the top recyclers in the world and have strict anti-littering regulations in their nation.

The musical instrument, the alphorn, has contributed in making Switzerland a recognized place also. Their enjoyable activities include skiing, hiking, mountaineering, Schwingen (also known as Swiss wrestling), and Hornussen, a popular sport that is a cross between golf and baseball.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 77.4
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 80.9
*Unemployment Rate: 3%

Answer: Canada

Canada borders the entire length of North America, and is the world's second largest country by total area, after Russia. It has been one of the world's top ten trading nations, and the most essential merchant of agricultural products such as, wheat, canola, and other grains. Other major assets include aluminum, gold, lead, and nickel.

The capital of Canada is Ottawa, but its largest city is Toronto. Official national sports are hockey and lacrosse. Other popular sports are baseball, basketball, curling, football, golf, skiing, soccer, and volleyball.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 78.0
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 87.3
*Unemployment Rate: 6.1%

Answer: Ireland

Ireland is divided into two political sectors. Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom, contains six counties, while the Republic of Ireland consists of twenty-six. Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe.

According to some Roman writings, Ireland was once referred to as Hibernia. In the year 432, Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland as a missionary. He has since become Ireland's patron saint. In the early years of the 1840's, the Great Potato Famine struck the country, resulting in a million deaths. A mass emigration of over a million Irish were forced to travel across the Atlantic to the United States of America in search of a better way of living and survival. The country's population never returned to the point it had been before the famine occurred.

The capital and largest city in the Republic of Ireland is Dublin, whereas, Belfast in Northern Ireland is its largest city and capital. The country of Ireland is very prominent for numerous things. Some of these include Aran sweaters, Blarney Stone, Guinness beer, Irish whiskey, leprechauns, popular myths and folklores, shamrocks, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Waterford crystal, the rock band U2, and the illustrious Riverdance, which is acknowledged world-wide.

Ireland's most popular sports are Association football and Gaelic football, followed by hurling and rugby. Other sports are baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, fishing, golf, greyhound racing, handball, hockey, horse racing, motor sports, scuba diving, swimming, tennis and ship wreck dives off the western coast of County Cork.

Finally, some popular tourist destinations are Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, Holy Cross Abbey, and Saint Patrick's Cathedral, just to name a few.

Answer: Sweden

Located in Northern Europe, Sweden borders Norway and Finland. North of the Arctic Circle, during some of the summer season, the sun does not set and in part of the winter, it does not rise.

For its ingenious design and constructions, many visit Jukkasjärvi, Sweden to view and experience its distinguished Ice Hotel. Several thousand ancient rock-carving sites were discovered in Sweden, which also makes for popular tourist destinations.

Sweden is noted for traditionally having a low level of burglary, car theft, and drugs. It is also acknowledged as having one of the most excellent education systems in the world. Several Swedes have been honored to have the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature bestowed upon them.

Additionally, most internationally known is the Swedish pop band, ABBA, who sold nearly 370 million records. Ingmar Bergman, from Sweden, became a successful filmmaker in Hollywood, USA. Other Swedes who went on to become famous actors in the United States were Ann-Margret, Dolph Lundgren, Greta Garbo, and Max von Sydow.

Sweden's primary sports are athletics, bandy, basketball, floorball, football, golf, handball, horse sports, and ice hockey. Bjorn Borg, a very successful tennis player, hails from Sweden.

Lastly, who could forget about the famous dishes of Swedish meatballs?

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 82.7
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 85.6
*Unemployment Rate: 6.4%

Answer: Netherlands

The Netherlands border Belgium, Germany, and the North Sea. A disastrous flood occurred in the Netherlands in February 1953, drowning more than 1,800 natives. After the traditional dikes collapsed in the catastrophic incident, an ingenious idea was designed and built over a thirty-year period. This was called the Delta Works. Members of the United States Congress visited and inspected the system that has protected the Netherlands from flooding since, after the horrendous occurrence of Hurricane Katrina.

The Netherlands are sometimes referred to as Holland, but in fact, North Holland is a province and South Holland is another province. The country has long been known for their traditional cheese, clogs (wooden shoes), dikes, pottery, tulips, and windmills. The Dutch export bulbs, cucumbers, flowers, plants, peppers, and tomatoes.

Two well-known painters were Dutchmen. They were Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh is famous for his painting "Starry Night". Also, Anne Frank, the young girl who inevitably could not escape the Holocaust, composed her diary while in hiding in the capital city of Amsterdam. The book based on her writings were published after her death.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 85.1
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 88.2
*Unemployment Rate: 4.5%

Answer: Finland

Finland, located in Northern Europe, borders Sweden, Russia and Norway, and was ranked as the second most stable country in the world in 2008. Finland, like the Netherlands, also has had a high life expectancy rate for decades. In the 1970s, Finland had a high death rate due to heart disease. Thanks to conscious, healthy eating, changes in the Finnish diet, and exercise, the rate has tremendously declined. It also had one of the lowest rate of smokers in Europe, contributing to better health and cleaner air. Unfortunately, it was rated as having some of the highest numbers of Type I diabetes in the world.

Economic imports consist of agriculture, chemicals, electronic machinery, fishing, forestry, hunting, metal products, paper products, timber, and vehicles.

The Finnish natives enjoy such recreational activities as bird watching, cycling, fishing, floorball, the popular sport of Formula One automobile racing, football, golf, hiking, hunting, ice hockey, kayaking, lake cruises, yachting, and Nordic running, skiing, and walking. The national sport of Finland, however, is Pesapallo, although, the media has made Formula One racing the most recognizable and popular sport.

Lastly, frequent moving vehicle accidents occur each year, which sometimes result in fatalities, due to the large population of elk, moose, reindeer, and other animals.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 85.9
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 88.0
*Unemployment Rate: 6.4%

Answer: Denmark

The mainland of Denmark is bordered by Germany and both the Baltic and North Seas in northern Europe. In 2008, Copenhagen, the capital and largest city of the country, was documented and ranked by "Monocle" magazine as being one of the most livable, environmentally-friendly cities in the world. Second to Sweden, it has traditionally been the most visited destination in Scandinavia. Based on its standards of education, health, low corruption, and welfare, Denmark received its honored title by the OECD survey.

Prime Danish exports include animal foods, chemicals, dairy products, electronic equipment, fish, furniture, gas and oil, leather, machinery, meat, and sugar. Denmark's most popular sport is football (soccer). Others include badminton, golf, gymnastics, handball, sailing, and other water sports. One notable Danish sportsman was Morten Andersen, born August 19, 1960 in Copenhagen. He excelled in the sport of football when he came to the U.S. and signed with the NFL's New Orleans Saints in 1982. He spent thirteen seasons as their kicker, departing in 1994. During his time, Andersen held the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer for the Saints and the Atlanta Falcons as well. He officially retired from the sport on December 8, 2008.

Finally, Hans Christian Andersen, world famous for his writings of stories and fairytales, was also a birth native from Denmark.

2008 OECD Survey Results:
*Satisfaction With Present Life: 90.1
*Predicted Satisfaction With Future Life: 92.3
*Unemployment Rate: 2%

Resources:
Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)
Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook
Yahoo Travel
Forbes online
Wikipedia