Being smart is usually seen as a positive trait. It can help you earn more money and make life a bit easier. But what if you’re living in one of the world’s smartest countries? Will your intelligence still stand out when everyone around you is just as bright? Or what if you’re in one of the world’s happiest countries? If you’re not always cheerful, will you feel out of place? Interestingly, I’ve noticed that the smartest countries aren’t always the happiest ones. At the end of the day, most of us would probably choose to be happy and less intelligent than smart and miserable!
Let’s talk about the smartest countries first. A study conducted by British professor Richard Lynn between 2002 and 2006 measured the IQs of citizens from over 80 countries. The results showed that Singapore and Hong Kong topped the list, followed by South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Italy. You might think that having a high average IQ is why Asians have the highest income in America. Factors like intelligence, education culture, and a strong family unit are often cited as reasons for their success. But does this make Asian people happier? Probably not.
Now, let’s look at the happiest countries. The World Happiness Report has been using statistical analysis since 2002 to determine which countries are the happiest. They look at factors like GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. In 2021, the top seven happiest countries were all in Northern Europe: Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
But here’s the catch: the smartest countries aren’t the happiest ones. For example, Singapore, the smartest country, ranks 31st in happiness. Hong Kong, the second smartest, is way down at 78th in happiness. It seems like there’s little correlation between intelligence and happiness.
So why aren’t the smartest countries happier? I’ve lived in and visited many of these countries, and I’ve met plenty of happy people. But there are also challenges. These countries can be crowded, polluted, and have high living costs compared to wages. Long work hours are common, and there’s a big gap between the rich and the poor.
In these smart countries, it’s common for adult children to live with their parents until they get married and start their own families. This could be a factor in their lower happiness levels. But strong family relationships are a big part of Asian culture, and being able to take care of your parents is seen as an honor.
After all my travels, I still think America is the best place to live. We may not be the smartest or happiest country, but we offer a lot of opportunities. We all have the chance to get smarter and happier if we want.
So, why do you think people in the smartest countries aren’t the happiest? Why do you think people in the happiest countries are so happy and smart? What do you think about America or wherever you live? If you had to choose, would you rather be smart or happy? Which country do you think has the best combination?
