Top 10 Happiest Countries Are in Latin America

In line with the 3rd United Nation's Annual International Day of Happiness, Gallup researchers have released the Gallup Positive Experience Index 014 survey results, hailing Latin American countries as the top 10 happiest countries in the world, Live Science reported.

There are about 143 countries that were included in the research and about a thousand respondents in each country were interviewed on "how happy they felt the day before." According to Gallup, more than 70 percent of the respondents answered 5 common reasons of their happiness and those were when they experienced enjoyment, when they smiled or laughed, when felt well rested and when they were treated with respect.

The goal of the annual research is to promote happiness worldwide. Collecting data about happiness is seen to be a huge help in creating programs that can improve people's way of life by making them happy.

The top 10 countries which bagged the highest number of "positive index scores" are as follows:

1. Paraguay

2. Colombia

3. Ecuador

4. Guatemala

5. Honduras

6. Panama

7. Venezuela

8. Costa Rica

9. El Salvador

10. Nicaragua

With these results, Latin America may and could be the unofficial sponsor of the United Nation's International Happiness Day which is held annually, Business Administration reported.

Also, another similar survey but from a separate independent research was initiated. Jetpac City Guide is a popular iPhone application that administers Instagram data in helping its users in finding top locations. They've listed top venues around the world which had the most number of "smile scores" over the past 12 months, International Business Times reported.

According to the Jetpac survey, Brazil topped the list as the happiest country in the planet, followed by Nicaragua and Colombia. Amazingly, Philippines was included in the list at #9, making it the only country located outside the Americas.

International Day of Happiness takes place every 20^th of March. This is to celebrate and acknowledge the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of every human being worldwide. The event is participated by countries that are members of the United Nations, organizations, civil societies, non-governmental organizations and individuals.

The Day of Happiness website encourages everyone to join and connect with other people around the globe and share happiness through various group activities. Individuals can also participate by connecting to loved ones and friends by sharing positive thoughts personally or online.