Malta ranks high in 'happiness' ranking, but many are 'struggling'
Malta is not the world's happiest country, but it does not fare badly, according to Gallup researchers who interviewed thousands of people in 155 countries. Forbes.com reports said that the researchers asked their respondents about satisfaction with their lives, and ranked their answers using a "life evaluation" score from 1 to 10. Then they asked questions about how each subject had felt the previous day.
Those answers allowed researchers to score their "daily experiences"--things like whether they felt well-rested, respected, free of pain and intellectually engaged. Subjects that reported high scores were considered "thriving."
Malta ranked 38th,with Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands taking the first four places, in that order. Costa Rica is sixth The US is 14th, the UK 17th, Turkmenistan 18th, Cyprus and Luxembourg tied at 28th while Malta was tied with Guatemala, two places ahead of Italy and four ahead of the Czech Republic.
Togo came in last.
The research does have its quirks. The Palestinian Authority is placed before Hungary even though 70 per cent of the population is struggling.
In Malta, 40% of respondents were listed as thriving, but 48% were 'struggling' and 12% were 'suffering'. The daily experience was ranked 6.6. compared to 7.9 for Denmark.
Forbes said that income undoubtedly influenced happiness, and the top countries were very well off.
But day-to-day happiness was more likely to be associated with how well one's psychological and social needs were being met, and that was harder to achieve with a pay cheque.
For example Costa Rica, the sixth-happiest country in the world, and the happiest country in the Americas, beat out richer countries like the United States because social networks in Costa Rica were tight, allowing individuals to feel happy with their lot, regardless of financial success.
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Marianna Galea Xuereb
Aug 1st 2010, 10:09
@Andrew Azzopardi and @Karl Consiglio
Perhaps it is because the majority of the citizens of the top ranking countries do not tolerate being grossly unhappy for long and when the condition afflicts them they resort to suicide.
After all, as far as surveys are concerned, dead people cannot be sampled and there is less chance of randomly selecting a very unhappy person in countries where most unhappy persons tend to purposely give up their own ghost rather than let nature or fate take its course.
Moreover, I cannot imagine a person who is in a suicide frame of mind accepting to answer a survey dealing with how much he/she feels “well-rested, respected, free of pain and intellectually engaged”. The article does not mention how Forbes choose population samples for such surveys, how many of the chosen accept to be intervened and how the percentage of people who decline to be sampled is interpreted or ignored in Forbes’ published results.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Aug 1st 2010, 09:48
@Mark Galea and @ g.c.Forte
Forsi il-politikanti Maltin ferhanin ghax b’xi mod jew iehor jirnexxilhom jghamlu lilhom infushom u lill-familthom “recession proof, money-no-problem families”?
Wiehed mill-qwiel tieghi jghid “Il-flus ma humiex kollox imma xorta huma importanti hafna”.
Hafna problemi ta’ sahha jistghu jigu imtaffin jekk mhux totalment eliminati permezz ta’ bizzejjed flus, per ezempju.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 31st 2010, 02:24
I don't really think it is a matter of financial or social situation of the country.. i mean ok it might make a difference but the real problem isn't that. I think.. that the problem is in the way maltese in general do deal with life and it's situations... i see a lot of pessimistic attitudes even in the very young.. which is kind of sad. As this article said...there were poor countries with a not so good social situation that scored better then other more stable countries. So yes i assume it is a matter of way of view and dealing with life matters in general.
Joseph E Briffa
Jul 30th 2010, 17:31
Malta is a living miracle. How over 400 000 people can live extremely comfortably and serenely on an arid patch of land the size of a European town without any natural resources except for limestone is indeed a miracle. Despite its miniscule size it is an independent country and has one vote like the massive countries of Canada, Brazil, India. The Maltese manage to have one car, one mobile phone, more than one TV set for every adult, live in spacious houses with an average of 4/5 rooms for a family of three, with A/Cs, PCs, travel once a year, enjoy a high standard of hygiene (indoors at least), generate thousands of tons of refuse, enjoy a standard of health second to none, and super social and health services. And all this despite the poor standard of education of more than half the population.
George Micallef
Jul 30th 2010, 17:56
You can now stop daydreaming Joseph E Briffa
Karl Consiglio
Jul 30th 2010, 17:16
We got 38th with Finland which as far as i am told has the most suicides, its a weather thing they say, but Malta is supposed to be sunny.
Andrew Azzopardi
Jul 30th 2010, 13:33
How do Forbes explain the fact that the top five ranked have some of the highest suicide rates in the world, not to mention also widespread euthenasia in the Netherlands?
G Zammit
Jul 30th 2010, 13:14
nitkelem alija> I AM STRUGGLING
John Bezzina Pensioner
Jul 30th 2010, 12:52
MALTA RANKING HIGH IN HAPPINESS * BUT MANY ARE STRUGGLING:
It doesn't make sence how can one mix the two catogories, so what the article actually says the people who are struggling are over the moon and happy,so whats the point of hand outs to alot of struggling Poor Maltese Citizens and pensioners, Hang on this why i see alot of smiling faces starting from the pensioners pof this country who Made Malta what it is now., Come me'ol cocker pull t'other, the people who are happy are the foreigners living here who treat as as servants and trats us the old colonial fashion, so who is happy now then eh?
D Vella
Jul 30th 2010, 12:25
Humbug.
mario gellel
Jul 30th 2010, 12:05
"Malta ranks high in 'happiness' ranking, but many are 'struggling'
DAWK>>" high in happiness' (IL-KLIKKA TA MADWAR GONZIPN)
DAWK>> 'struggling' (IL-MAGGORANZA TAL-POPLU MALTI)
Charmaine Marmara'
Jul 31st 2010, 11:40
ezatt
Mark Galea
Jul 30th 2010, 11:35
Mhux bilfors imdejqin in-nies
nofs in-nies imdejqin ghax ilhom aktar minn 20 sena fl-oppozizjoni
u min nofs l-iehor, issib imdejqin ukoll.
hasra li l-mexxejja tal-akbar partiti ferhanin (dejjem bid-dahqa ikunu) - tghid ghax kull meta l-gvern jipproponi zieda ghal-MP's, l-oppozizzjoni tivvota 100% favur ukoll?
g.c.Forte
Jul 30th 2010, 12:37
Donnok qeghed tara xaqq ta dawl, Mark Galea. Qeghed tinduna li fil parlament hemm 69 ( flok 65 jahasra ) li parti min xogholhom huwa li ihokku dahar xulxin, u jibzaw ghal dak it tron. Tghejd mhux ser ikun hemm xi hadd minnhom li ser imur jaqbez min fuq il Barrakka ta fuq, ghax qeghdin kif Alla iridna. Min jaf forsi ghalhekk it tnejn iridu li l- parlament jigi f`bieb il belt, halli ikunu fil qrib, jew mil Barrakka, jew aktar vicin ghal gol Foss, bhal ma qeghed il poplu.
sandro pace
Jul 30th 2010, 11:33
Though this crowded country is far from perfect, I see no reason why we maltese should not count our blessings.
Paul Camilleri
Jul 30th 2010, 10:47
Happy in Malta with all these problems, taxes, foreigners, illegal immigrants, "perceived" corruption, friends and friends of friends, destruction of the environment, black dust, pollution, interruptions in electricity supply and whatever else? Am I living in Malta? Or did they interview moon residents?
Adrian Gouder
Jul 30th 2010, 11:59
These are scientific unbiased studies. Perhaps it would be wise to examine one's self and find out whether lamentation is justified.... and perhaps happiness might happen as a result of such examination.
joseph m scicluna
Jul 30th 2010, 10:38
@ all
THE USUAL MALTESE-GEMGEM.
Before jumping to conclusions, take a look at he 3rd World countries and then thank God for what we have.
Marcel Dingli
Jul 30th 2010, 10:53
Yes ! Seems we have joined the third world countries on the fast track.
Cettina Zammit
Jul 30th 2010, 12:24
Hafna "third world countries" diga' qedin ahjar minna u hafna ohrajn qed jilhquna bil-mod il-mod. U Malta dejjem sejra lura bhal granc. Sirna Zimbabwe fil-Mediteran!
g.c.Forte
Jul 30th 2010, 09:58
I think that there is a big mistake here............38 place in happiness........we should be first. I am sure that Gallup researchers went asking the wrong persons. They should have gone to Luqa, where the W/E company called "ARMS " is, and ask the people who will be queuing there, what are they doing waiting..... So, 40 % thriving ( getting alone well ) which I believe that this is going down pretty fast , 48 % struggling ( live to survive ) and 12 % suffering ( existing not living ). So, 60 % of the Maltese population ( means 240,000 apx.) are at risk of poverty. I believe that with the cost of living that we are having, with the raises of W/E tariffs, Gas, Petrol, ect...ect...ect...in a very very few years time we will be reaching Togo.
Mark Galea
Jul 30th 2010, 10:38
@g.c.Forte
x'int tinkwieta siehbi ... bid-dwejjaq li hawn daqt jaqa l-gvern u mbaghad jitla l-PL bi 15,000 vot aktar. Daqhshekk dwejjaq imbaghad ... dawl u ilma b-irhis, petrol u diesel b'irhis, u l-gass b'irhis ukoll. Imbaghad inkunu ferhanin. Hekk qal il-leader. Amen.
g.c.Forte
Jul 30th 2010, 11:11
@ Mark Galea..............Mhux tiprova trid habib? Ma nafx jekk ghandekx l-eta tieghi, sabiex tiftakar li meta l-partit socjalista ha il gvern fl 1971, konna hafna aghar min hekk. L-anqas flus ghal pagi tal haddiema tal gvern ma hallew in nazzjonalisti.Kollox beghlaw huma. Kont tara tallaba f`bieb il Belt, aktar milli kien hemm xarabanks. Ghal grazzja t`Alla sa issa dawn ghadhom ma dehrux, pero hemm qeghdin. Id differenza bejn iz zewg partiti hija semplici. Ghandek lil P.L. jahseb fiz zghir ( mhux fl`eta ) u l- P.N. jahseb fil KBIR ( mhux fl`eta ). Issa ifimha int.
Mark Galea
Jul 30th 2010, 14:01
@g.c.Forte - habib tieghi, ghandi bizzejjed eta biex niftakar lis-suldati jsawtu n-nies fiz-zmien meta d-demokrazija kienet mhedda mil vjolenza.
U ma tistax tqabbel wisq il-partiti - ma xiex ser tqabbel il-PN? mal-gvern tal-PL qabel 1987? jew ma dak tat-22 xahar tan-96?
g.c.Forte
Jul 31st 2010, 08:09
@ Mark Galea.............La ghandek zmien bizzejjed, mela tiftakar is swat bil lembubi li qalaw il laburisti mill pulizija ta De Grey. Tiftakar id dfin fil mizbla, ect...ect......Mela tiftakar meta E.F.A. ma obdiex il Kostituzjoni u ghamel il famuza " Dizubbidjenza Civili " Tiftakar kif f`daqqa wahda wara 1986 waqfu il bombi wara il bibien tan nies. Jekk ser nibqa sejjer ma nieqaf qatt. Jien ghalkemm laburista nirrispetta l-opinjoni ta kullhadd, ghax Alla` hares kullhadd laburist jew kullhadd nazzjonalist. Ma niddejjaqx nikritika lil partit tieghi. Dejjem ghedt li iz zewg partiti ghandhom it tajjeb u l- hazin tahhhom. Ma niddejjaqx nghejd li s-Socjalizmu ( ix xellug ) spicca, id Demokratici Kristjani tal- P.N spicca ( il lemin ). u gejna sew ghax iz zewg partiti resqu fic centru. Jigifieri kwazi bl-istess politika, d-differenza kif jitwassal il messagg.u l-aktar importanti bhal ma ghedt aktar il fuq.........JINDUKKRAW is siggu ta xulxin.
mario aquilina
Jul 30th 2010, 09:57
Correct me if I'm wrong, a few years ago, Malta was numero uno in these, do not know what is the purpose of, statistics.
How can you have a happy nation, when one just makes ends meet. Having to work at two jobs to be able to afford things, that to other nations within central Europe is the norm. Working for a low wage, to be able to afford some essential commodities that nearly cost double the price of what one can get them abroad. Thank the Lord for tal-lira/2 euro shop.
For those in the know, 'Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet'.
P.Cassar
Jul 30th 2010, 09:32
BIZARRE WAYS MAKE US HAPPY..................LIKE COMING IN 38TH AND HAVING A HEADING AS RANKING US HIGH !!!!!!!
Carmel Xuereb
Jul 30th 2010, 09:09
U zgur li nkunu ferhanin ghax qiesna bhal l-angli tal-festa bil-virga mwahhal fil-warrani. Ara ma gewx isaqu bhalissa x'hin bdejna nircievu l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma kullhadd ihokk rasu biex jara minn fejn ser igib biex ihllas. imma l-aqwa li ferhanin bhall-angli tal-festa.
Charles Sammut
Jul 30th 2010, 09:04
This report must have been drawn up by the same people who placed St George's Bay beach among the top 10 world beaches. The usual crock of c*ap.
Vasilisa Brandenburg
Jul 30th 2010, 09:03
We would be even happier if outsiders wouldnt interfere in our own business
Doreen Gatt
Jul 30th 2010, 14:25
Here Here mainly the British they are welcome provided they spend some money, but please keep your nose clean and stay out of our businerss. Thank Thank and Thankyou, and we shall all live happily ever after. Amen.
Lino Formosa
Jul 30th 2010, 23:54
Come off it Doreen the Brits come here to whing and not spending any money, whinging is their main priority, to me thats sounds like jealousy as we got it all man. sun sea happiness and most of all we live longer then they do up in that cold country, ice (black) sleet snow and oh don't forget the clamping galore.
A Borg
Jul 30th 2010, 08:54
When you've got this...
http://www.bigtravelweb.com/images/costa_rica_beaches_l.jpg
... who needs money?
g.c.Forte
Jul 30th 2010, 10:49
Of course you do need money, having a bank account like that. Six like her, and you will be living heaven on earth.
g.c.Forte
Jul 30th 2010, 11:17
P.S. I wanted to say " Of course you DO NOT need money " and I said six and not seven ( one for each day of the week ) because on the seventh day God have rested, and so do I.
victor caruana
Jul 30th 2010, 08:47
Somehow I thought that being catholic and having no divorce we should be the happiest people on earth and even other planets.
david camilleri
Jul 30th 2010, 14:22
you made me chuckle :) thank you!
I wonder what the top 4 countries think about god and divorce... interesting!
Lewis Ellul
Jul 30th 2010, 08:45
F'Malta ghandna nies dahkanin (jew dahkana?) u jidhru ferhanin daqs kemm ghandna angli tal-festa bil-musmar fuq wara u b'halqhom imcarrat bi tbissima permanenti.
cbugeja
Jul 30th 2010, 08:45
yes agree malta is a happy country.but we are a high population density country so with a little consideration and manners towards each other,and some discipline and self disipline we can be even happier
Jay Simpson
Jul 30th 2010, 08:36
Hawnhekk ma jahdmux dawn is-surveys. Il-Laburisti jghidu li qed ibatu u jerqu l-gharaq tad-demm, u n-Nazzjonalist jghidu li kollox sabih u qeghdin fil-genna ta' l-art!!!