Denmark has reclaimed the title of world's happiest country, bumping Switzerland to second place in this year's edition of the UN's World Happiness Report.
Released to coincide with World Happiness Day on March 20, the UN released the fourth edition of the index which ranks 156 countries by their "happiness levels."
After losing the title to Switzerland last year, Denmark stole back the crown of world's happiest country -- a title it's claimed three out of four years.
New this year, the report also took into consideration the "inequality" of happiness and well-being among citizens.
Dominating the top 10 list are Nordic and Scandinavian countries, with Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden taking up half the spots.
To compile the ranking, editors considered the GDP per capita; the healthy years of life expectancy; social support; trust (measured by a perceived absence of corruption in government and business); freedom to make life decisions; generosity (measured by donations); and new this year, happiness inequality.
Because after studying rates of distribution, editors say they found a correlation between countries with more equal distributions of well-being and higher life evaluations.
Happiness is argued to serve as a better indication of human welfare than income, poverty, education, health and good government when measured separately.
The importance of making happiness and well-being a matter of public policy has also been recognized by four national governments: Bhutan, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela have all appointed ministers of happiness.
Denmark has repeatedly taken the top spot in happiness and life satisfaction rankings be it the UN or the OECD, thanks in part to generous parental leave policies, gender equality, work-life balance, and safety.
Here are the world's top 10 happiest countries:
Landing at the bottom of the World Happiness Report index are Burundi, Syria and Togo.
12 Tips For Happiness in 2016
Work(01 of12)
Open Image Modal"Work makes you happier. It provides routine, structure and self-worth. Make sure you are in a job you enjoy. If you are not, make finding one that you do a priority for this year."
Independence(02 of12)
Open Image Modal"Personal control in work makes you happier; there is better life satisfaction for those earning less but in control of their working practice than those who are richer but have less control."
Relationships and Friendships(03 of12)
Open Image Modal"Those with close relationships are happiest – try to see friends and family more in the New Year. Research shows the closer people live to their friends, the happier they are – make new friends close to where you live. Get to know your neighbours better, try joining sports groups or taking up a hobby close to your home."
Play to your strengths(04 of12)
Open Image Modal"Identifying your strengths and focus on developing these, either in work or a hobby. This will encourage you to become immersed in what you do and find life more gratifying."
Altruism(05 of12)
Open Image Modal"Altruism is proven to help focus beyond ourselves and enable us to be more connected with the world around us. In 2015, find local charities, sports clubs or community organisations where you can donate your time - you might even start new friendships with local people."
Be kind(06 of12)
Open Image Modal"Set yourself a weekly target for acts of kindness for friends, family, colleagues and strangers on the street. This will further increase your connection to the outside world."
Focus on the positives(07 of12)
Open Image Modal"Improving happiness levels can depend on how we focus our attention – being attentive and focusing on one positive task helps us to enjoy the moment."
Positive Memory(08 of12)
Open Image Modal"Those who are happier remember bad events in a more positive light – it is possible to focus on particular aspects of a memory to notice the positives more than negatives."
Gratitude Diary(09 of12)
Open Image Modal"You can retrain your mind to focus on the good things that happen rather than the bad. Stop taking your blessings for granted by keeping a gratitude diary. Every day for 6 weeks jot down 5 things that happened that day for which you are grateful."
Meditate(10 of12)
Open Image Modal"Regular meditation can help with positive mental health."
Say ‘Thank You’(11 of12)
Open Image Modal"Expressing your gratitude for someone’s actions is the single most effective exercise in positive psychology. Saying thank you to even small acts and gestures will help improve gratitude levels."
Use Technology Less(12 of12)
Open Image Modal"The less time you spend on using technology, the more you can carry out activities that help you engage with the world around you.”