Vanuatu Happiest Country On Earth Again
Posted on 1 August 2010 by LynThomas in Travel
Lonely Planet released its latest travel guide list of the world’s happiest places. Topping the list is the 80 tropical island archipelago of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, while Montreal in Quebec holds second place.
Lonely Planet said it was not surprised that Vanuatu emerged as the happiest place, because the general idea of a happy life, has images of a hammock in a white-sand beach. Vanuatu is known for its blue waters teeming with life, lush vegetation and scenic environment. This and more is reflected in the happy smiles of the local Ni-Vanuatu people.
Lonely Planet’s travel guide pointed out Montreal is considered a happy city because it hosts Just for Laughs, which is one of the world’s biggest comedy festivals during summer. Lonely Planet said the Quebec city is also clean, welcoming and multicultural.
The travel guide said other happy cities could be found in Wuyi Shan in China and Malawi in Africa. Wuyi Shan is described as a place of secret valleys with waterfalls and mysterious caves. Malawi is known for greeting visitors with effusive grins.
In 2009, Forbes.com named Rio de Janeiro in Brazil as the world’s happiest city, followed by Sydney in Australia.
In 2006 Vanuatu was named the happiest place on earth on the Happy Planet Index. The survey, compiled by the New Economics Foundation and the Friends of the Earth, said Vanuatu, with a population of just 209,000, came out on top because its people are happy, live to nearly 70 years of age and do little damage to the planet.
Vanuatu was followed by ten Latin American and Caribbean countries, all ranked according to their ecological footprint, life-satisfaction and life expectancy.
The Happy Planet Index was compiled to prove that people can live long, happy lives without consuming large amounts of the Earth’s resources. Though living standards in the West may have improved dramatically over the past 50 years, it does not mean that people are any happier.
Although Vanuatu topped the happiness index, it ranked 207th out of 233 economies, when measured against Gross Domestic Product and is classed as a Developing Nation.
Many now consider Vanuatu as the best kept secret of the South Pacific islands.
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1 August 2010
[...] Lonely Planet released its latest travel guide list of the world’s happiest places. Topping the list is the 80 tropical island archipelago of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific island, while Montreal in Quebec takes second position. Read more… [...]
Wow. I certainly have it on my list as a holiday destination.
I think its true why Vanuatu should be voted the happiest place on Earth and Ni-Vanuatu people should take pride because of this and mentain this status. We can do more than this as individual Ni-Vanuatu to contribute to this happiness.I think more research should be done as to why most Ni-Vans are happy people.
Blessings to all,
Rennie M Ngwele (Manples- Vanuatu)
This is true… As a man Ples , there’s not doubt in regards to Vanuatu the Happiest place on eart. Maintain Peace for always…
Cheers
NFM
happiness comes from God, I think God has riches bless Vanuatu, its enviroments and it people.
Certainly a benchmark ni-vanuatu nationals should be proud of and at the same time a challenge for our leaders & citizens on a global achievement. Go Vatu!
Yeah! I’m proud to be a ni-van.
Vanuatu i tuff tumas…nice!
As a citizen of vanuatu i’m so happy to hear that…lets keep it that way.umi no rekem plz
So happy of the news! Thankyou God for such a place..
cheers
JF
Etant une Ni-Vanuataise,je suis fiere que mon pays soit designe parmi tous les pays de la planete comme le plus heureux de tous….Cheers Vanuatu!!!!!!!!!
.. I have to agree spent 2 months there last year and have never experinced anything like and Ihave travelled the world. the sights,, the sound the people ,, the way of life absolutely unique…Lets just hope the Aussies dont ruin it!!!!
I agree, I really enjoyed my holiday to Port Vila, will go back again one day I hope.
To everybody out there who want to see and believe, come you are most welcome.
proud to be a man – ples.
Cheers all wantok
I quite agree,I am very proud of beeing Vanuatu voted the world’s happiest place.
Of course Vanuatu is the happiest, how could you not be when you have islands like us?
Proud to be a Ni-Van!!! knowing its the happiest place on earth.
Definitely proud to call it home ♥
I am happy for Vanuatu. Extremely so, because my culture is my root.
Hi
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Thanks
In Vanuatu everyone always has a smile on their face.
thumbs up to vanuatu being the happiest place on earth. I also think the economies ranking 207/233 regarding GDP of vanuatu is wrong and that a better measuing scale should be used to get the true ranking. why is it that some countries who are lower ranked have beggers in the street/families with no food/ homeless living in the streets and countless other issues that you can’t find in vanuatu. thus, that measuring criteria isn’t fit to measure vanuatu economy GDP.
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