This year's report also named Finland's capital Helsinki as the “happiest city in the world”. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said that the result was based on the fact that “the Finnish welfare state makes a good life possible to everyone”, adding that that opportunities for people in Finland were not affected by family background or the wealth of parents. The "World Happiness Report" has been released by the UN annually since 2012. Finland has been at the top of the list for the past years, and its ranking has risen steadily. All five Nordic countries are included in the top ten in this year's report, which recognizes their reliable and extensive welfare systems, low corruption rates, and well-functioning democratic systems and state institutions. The high level of social trust among Nordic citizens also plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life there, the report says.
- Xinhua -