Austria has been named the “happiest county in the world” based on a number of varying factors including pay, employment, crime – and even sunshine.
One European country has been named the “happiest in the world” and it is famous for its stunning mountainous landscapes and sparkling lakes.
Based on several key factors, including quality of life, average salary, and safety, Austria has been ranked top in a report by Casino.com assessing which country is the “happiest”. The report stated: “Austria scores relatively highly across the board, placing in the top 10 for four of the six factors we looked at. Quality of life in Austria is high, with an average annual salary of £50,436 and a retirement age of 62.5, sharing second place for the factor in our rankings.”
The company analysed a range of global data sets to come to this conclusion, including average pay, unemployment rates, crime rates, sunshine hours, and average retirement ages, awarding Austria with a final happiness index score of 7.6 out of a possible 10, placing it in the top spot. This outcome is different, however, to the results of the World Happiness Report 2024, which named close-by Finland as the happiest country and Austria as 14th, reports the Express.
Known for its rich cultural heritage and history, astonishing natural beauty – including its section of the Alps mountain range – cuisine, music and much more, along with being the happiest, Austria has also been named as one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Based on the most recent World Peace Index by Vision of Humanity, the nation followed Iceland, Denmark, Ireland and New Zealand to rank fifth.
Vienna, Austria’s capital, is a safe and vibrant city with over two million residents. It boasts low crime rates and a reliable public transport system that ensures safety even at night. The city is renowned for its stunning palaces and transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, adorned with the twinkling lights of Christmas markets.
But Austria is home to more than one notable town, and nearly 500 miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life, is the picturesque mountain village of Alpbach which has been awarded the title of “Austria’s Most Beautiful Village”. Full of traditional wooden architecture and chalets, colourful flowers set against rich green backdrops and breathtaking mountainscapes.
There are over 400 bathing lakes in Austria, perfect for the summer months. One of the most stunning lakes is Lake Achensee, located just 45 minutes by car from Innsbruck, the fifth-largest city in Austria and the capital of Austria’s western state of Tirol. Often called “Tirol’s ocean,” this lake was formed over 20,000 years ago by glacial activity in the Alps.