Why Are Scandinavians So Happy? 

I think the “World Happiness Report” is pretty self-explanatory. It takes into account different factors ranging from the use of technology to social norms and ranks the happiest countries in the world. Since the first World Happiness Report in 2012, Scandinavian countries have topped the list. If you’ve been there, you know why. But from the outside looking in, there could be some curiosity. The question is: Why are Scandinavians so happy?

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy? 3 Reasons

There’s no science behind forthcoming content, and while there are some reports here and there, these three reasons are why I think there’s an abundance of happiness in Scandinavia. If you’ve been (or are going), you may have a different opinion. If so, leave a comment below.

Reason #1: The Work-life Balance Sways Toward Life

More than half of Americans have an unhealthy work-life balance. I’d bet every penny to my name that that number is significantly lower in Scandinavia. Actually, I don’t have to bet. According to the OECD’s “How’s Life” survey, only about 1.1% of Sweden’s employees work very long hours, while 2% of employees in Denmark work long hours.

Not convinced? Consider this:

According to Expert Market, Norwegians work an average of 1,424 hours per year, which is quite a bit less than most countries. Americans, on average, work 359 hours more or about 45 extra days, if my math is correct. 

So, I think it’s safe to say that a work-life balance that leans toward life is at the heart of their happiness. I’d even go as far as saying that Scandinavians have a ferocious dedication to living. 

Here are a few points to back that up: 

1. Vacation Time: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have laws mandating a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation. 

2. Maternity & Paternity Leave: New Swedish parents get 480 days (per child) of paid leave while receiving 80% of their salary. Expectant mothers can get free childbirth coaching 60 days into the pregnancy, can reduce their normal working hours by up to 25% until their child turns 8, and can receive a monthly child allowance until their child turns 16. 

3. Total Flexibility: Since the 1990s, Finland’s Working Hours Act has allowed people to adjust their start or end times by up to three hours. As if that weren’t enough, effective January 2020, Finland allows employees to determine the timing and location of their work for at least half of their regular working hours. 

Of course, rules and regulations differ from country to country; however, the overall theme remains the same: Life comes first. 

Reason #2: Mother Nature

Spend any amount of time in Scandinavia and you’ll quickly realize its natural beauty. Norway’s fjords, the Swedish Laplands, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, the Northern Lights, and my favorite, The Lofoten Island, don’t even begin to cover the list of must-see places. 

I still remember one of my nights in Norway. After a day of exploring, we hopped in the car and drove for what seemed like hours through the snow-kissed mountain roads. When we got to our destination, there was nothing — and that was why it was so beautiful. The land was flat for as far as I could see. There was snow above my head. The night sky was completely wide open, in colors I’d never seen before. There was no light pollution. The only sounds came from the wind and the animals. (See the image below.)  

Now, I should have prefaced this by saying that I’m fully aware that there’s a ton of natural beauty in the United States. But, here’s why I think this natural beauty makes people happier: Scandinavian culture truly values the outdoors; it’s in their DNA. Anna Vuonia, a consular officer from Helsinki said in an interview, “I realize that Finns do spend a lot of time outdoors and in nature. Even in winter, we always try to find ways to go hiking or walking. Here (in New York City), I’m struggling to find time to do all that.” A similar message came from Josh Dickstein, a dual US-Norwegian citizen. He said, “This society is designed for people to not be in a car. Norway isn’t interested in making exercise a compartmented part of your life, it’s supposed to be your lifestyle. People go to the gym, but they’re not running. They’re running outside. They’re biking in the mountains.” 

Reason #3: There’s an Overwhelming Sense of Calm

This reason is from personal experience, and I’ll give you two examples to help paint this picture. I took a train to Oslo, Norway. I wasn’t staying there; just stopping and then driving to Koppang. That said, I spent a few hours exploring as much of Norway’s capitol as possible. The highlights included the Oslo Opera House and the Freia chocolate factory. At the end of exploring, I stopped at a bakery (I can’t remember the name) to grab a quick bite. I tried to order. I really did, but the language barrier wouldn’t move. So, the people I was staying with stepped in to help me order my pastry. Leading up to that point, however, the employee as well as the long line behind me didn’t complain. It was business as usual. No rush. Total calm and patience, which you don’t always get elsewhere in the world.

Second example: My flight from JFK to Copenhagen had a layover in Finland. You can imagine my disappointment when I looked at the on-plane flight tracker to see that we were flying over Denmark only to have to turn around. I’m always down to step foot in another country, but after 8 hours crammed in economy with the person in front of me reclining the entire time, I was ready to deplane. Nevertheless, we landed in Finland—and missed our connecting flight. Not a big deal, but we had to sort it out. I can’t express it enough: This was the easiest and most hassle-free experience I’ve ever had at an airport. It was so refreshing and a welcome experience after the flight. 

How to Adopt a More Scandinavian Way of Life (and Be Happier)

I don’t want to be happy, said no one ever. However, when it comes to prolonged happiness, Scandinavians have it figured out. This was immediately apparent when I visited in 2018, but obviously, a long-term stay wasn’t an option. So, the question became: How can I apply this way of life at home? 

Take Pride in My Career, But Don’t Lose Sight of Everything Else

I love my career, my job, and the company I work for. But work has a way of sneaking up on you and before you know it, you’re underwater and burnt out. I try not to let that happen by setting boundaries, i.e., clocking out and not clocking back in until the next morning. I also try to keep work-related apps off of my phone. My coworkers have my number, so if there’s an emergency, they know they can reach me there. Otherwise, I’ll respond in the morning. These are small strategies, but they really help me compartmentalize my life and give myself room to relax.

When All Else Fails, Go Outside

If anything good has come out of the pandemic, it’s that I’ve grown fond of walking and now find myself walking several times a day. It took a bit to notice the positive impact of walking, but eventually, I realized the power of the outdoors.

Prioritize Being Calm

If I was to write down everything that’s ever made me anxious—or ignited my anxiety and OCD—I bet I could have maneuvered around the majority of them by just taking a step back and focusing on my breath. So, now whenever I feel like my brain is about to turn on me, I try to put things into perspective and ask myself if this situation will really have a long-term impact on my life. I also rely heavily on my hygge-optimized home to keep me calm.

I don’t know exactly why Scandinavians are so happy, although The World Happiness Report points to some pretty definitive reasons. For me, however, all that matters is that when I visited, I was the happiest I’ve ever been. And since the week and a half in 2018, I’ve tried my darndest.

Why Are Scandinavians So Happy? Final Thoughts

I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure why people living in Scandinavian countries are so happy. That said, we can make an extremely educated guess.

If we zoom out and look at Scandinavian culture from the outside, a few things stick out—all of which almost certainly contribute to their happiness: a good work-life balance, nature, and a sense of calm.

With this information, anyone living outside of Scandinavia’s borders can begin optimizing their lives for happiness. Before long, the question will go from “why are Scandinavians so happy?” to “why are you so happy?”