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Happy Colombia
Colombians are the happiest people according to survey

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A street vendor in Cartagena. (Photo © Natasha Johl Photography)
By Joy Italia
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I learned recently that Colombians are the happiest people in the world. Their joyful attitude on life is closely followed by the populations of Fiji and Saudi Arabia. The information was released earlier this month as a result of a survey carried out by Gallup International.
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Señor Carlos. (Photo © Natasha Johl Photography www.foto-trails.com.)
The survey polled 66,040 people from 68 countries across the globe between September 2015 and December 2015, and asked respondents: “In general, do you personally feel very happy, happy, neither happy nor unhappy, unhappy or very unhappy about your life?” According to the results, 87 percent of Colombians polled said they were happy, and only 2 percent said they were unhappy, giving them a “net happiness score” of 85 percent -- twenty points above the global average and nearly double the score of the United States. 
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A family celebrating life in the river by my house, during the Christmas holidays. (Photo by Joy Italia.)
Apparently, the data does not reflect a sudden jolt of happiness in this South American country of 48 million.  According to Carlos Julio Lemoine, the President of Centro Nacional de Consultoría, who carried out the Colombian research, 
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​Colombians scored happiest in 2012 and 2013 as well.
 
Hmmm…
I have lived in Colombia long enough (even though not that long) to realize the hardships faced by many here. According to statistics, as compared to other nations, the country has the highest number of internally displaced people due to violent conflicts; grade school teachers work the longest hours; and faced with frequent assassinations of their union organizers, workers confront more danger when asserting their rights.
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(Photo © Natasha Johl Photography www.foto-trails.com.)
​And yet…
Every since my arrival, what has struck me again and again is the steadfast friendliness of Colombians. The other day, trying to find his favorite childhood beach, my driving friend waved down a taxi heading in the opposite direction. The driver motioned to wait a moment, and having found a safe place to turn around, parked, got out, and took his time giving us detailed directions for the beach. Whether offering directions, greeting passersby, or chatting with neighbors, the friendly air prevails. My guess is that if you are outwardly friendly, you’re likely to be happy on the inside as well.
 
Today is January 20, and the Christmas/New Year’s holidays are only starting to wind down. Many take several weeks off in December or January, and those who don’t, on weekends, seem to gather their entire families by the river behind my house. The image of three-generational laughter of kids gleefully splashing, feet-soaking abuelas (grandmas), and parents tending the grill or yakking with one of the many families, could define what happiness is.
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Indigenous friends at the 'end of the continent' in Punta Gallinas, Colombia. (Photo © Natasha Johl Photography www.foto-trails.com.)
​My first day in Colombia, as I learned walking through the old city of Cartagena and passing one closed shop after another, was a holiday. And the next Monday too! Apparently, Colombians enjoy the highest number of paid holidays in the world. With 18 public holidays,  it’s clear that this South American country values rest. In comparison, on average, those in the US enjoy only 8 paid public holidays per year.
 
Back to the survey. Thanks to Mr Lemoine, who sent me a copy of the survey’s break-down, I learned that there were approximately 1,000 participants per country. All lived in cities, and the majority represented the middle class. Those unemployed, or of low income, reported being happy too, but less so. I wonder how the rural population, more directly affected by the armed conflict, would have tallied. I also wonder what Colombians could teach us about happiness.
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Happy critters too! A festive parade of ants on the foothills of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. (Photo by Joy Italia.)
More Information:
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Gallup International
Posted February 2016
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