| USA TODAY
Denmark is apparently the happiest country in the world
Denmark took first place in this year’s World Happiness Report. Video provided by Newsy
Newslook
The claim: Denmark is the happiest country in the world; 33 hours a week, $ 20 minimum wage, free care for university, medical and children
Every year before the United Nations World Happiness Day, on March 20, a report is released ranking 156 countries on their happiness based on income, life expectancy, freedom, social support, trust and generosity.
According to one post on social media, Denmark appeared at the top of the list.
“Denmark is considered the happiest country in the world with 33 hours of work a week, $ 20 minimum wages, free universities and medical care, free child care and low corruption,” a Facebook message from December 30 read to the group Mysterious . Facts. The user who posted this has no way of being contacted.
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Nordic countries were high in reports, but Denmark is not first now
The Gallup 2020 World Happiness Report ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world for the third consecutive year, with Denmark in second and Switzerland third.
The report assesses the countries on the basis of various aspects of the social environment, such as trusting in someone, a sense of freedom to make important life decisions, generosity and trust.
Predominant risks are poor health, discrimination, low income, unemployment, divorce, divorce or widow and street safety. The ‘happiness cost of these risks is very large’, according to the report.
The meme provides no source of information or date; it is possible that the first claim at the time the meme was created could have been valid, as Denmark used to be the first place in World Happiness Reports.
A search for the text included in the report resulted in a blog post with an almost identical version of the claim from 2016, a year when Denmark took first place. Denmark also topped the list in 2012 and 2013.
Nordic countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, have appeared in the top 10 of the World Happiness Report since publishing their annual rankings in 2012. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Nordic countries occupy the top three places.
The report found that citizens of the North are extremely satisfied with their lives due to reliable and extensive welfare benefits, low corruption, well-functioning democracy and state institutions and small population.
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Working hours, university, medical and child care
In addition to overall happiness, the report makes claims – some of which are true – about why Denes can be so happy.
While the post reports that an average working week in Denmark is 33 hours, a full-time working week in Denmark, according to the city of Copenhagen, is usually 37 hours spread over five days. It / notes that working weeks can be longer for those who work in a managerial position or as self-employed.
It is discouraged to stay overtime, and most employees leave the office around 4pm to pick up their children and prepare for dinner, according to the official website of Denmark. In the last weeks of July, offices are closed because Danes take time to enjoy a short summer.
The post states that the country’s minimum wage is $ 20 per hour. However, according to Investopedia, Denmark does not have a federal minimum wage. However, unions are working to ensure that workers pay a reasonable rate and try to keep the average minimum wage at $ 20 an hour. From 2020, the minimum wage in the country will be around $ 16.60 per hour, according to the check-in price.
Schooling is largely free, as the post claims. According to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, higher education in Denmark is free for students of the European Union or European University Association and for students in exchange programs. Tuition is also free for students with a permanent residence, a temporary residence with the possibility of obtaining a permanent residence or a residence permit.
In Denmark, the health care system is financed by an income tax of 8% and offers citizens and legal residents universal access, reports USA TODAY. Although medical care is free in the mail, it does not have the context that taxpayers cover the costs.
The public childcare system in Denmark is based on a partially free system, and some daycare facilities have waiting lists. However, according to Work in Denmark, most guarantee a place for children from the age of 1. The childcare facilities receive financial support from the state, and the parents who pay the most out of pocket are 30% of the cost. Childcare is not free, as claimed.
The reason Denmark can afford to provide these services is because it has one of the highest tax rates in the world, with the average Dane paying a total of 45% in income tax, according to the BBC. In fact, most Scandinavian countries offer higher education, child and medical care and parental leave due to their high tax levels. In 2018, Denmark’s tax-to-GDP ratio was 44.9%, Norway’s 39% and Sweden’s 43.9%, which is comparable to a ratio of 24.3% in the US, according to the Tax Foundation.
The report claims that Denmark has little corruption. The 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world for the fifth year in a row due to its degree of press freedom, access to information, independent legal systems and strong standards of integrity for public officials.
In 2018, according to the World Population Review, New Zealand and Denmark were both considered the least corrupt, indicating that there is no exact way to measure corruption, but many use the Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International.
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Our verdict: Partly untrue
The claim that Denmark is the happiest country in the world due to its short working weeks, high minimum wage and free university and health and child care is rated PARTIALLY FALSE based on our research. Finland has been considered the happiest country in the world for the last three consecutive years, with Denmark gaining a place in the top three. Denmark also has 37 working weeks, not 33, and there is no minimum wage. Services for higher education, child and medical care and parental leave are available due to their high tax levels; they are not offered for free.
Our sources for fact checking:
- World Happiness Report, March 20, “Cities and Happiness: A World Ranking and Analysis”
- World Happiness Report, March 20, “The Nordic Exceptionalism: Explaining why the Nordic countries are constantly among the happiest in the world”
- World Happiness Report 2016
- World Happiness Report 2012
- World Happiness Report 2013
- World Happiness Report 2015
- Social Panic, March 17, 2016, “DENMARK LANGUAGES: IS DENMARK THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY BECAUSE IT? NO.”
- City of Copenhagen, “How many hours is a standard working week?”
- Denmark.dk, work-life balance
- Investopedia, April 9, 5 developed countries without minimum wages
- Check-In Price, 10 February, Average and Minimum Salary in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Studyindenmark.dk, tuition fees and bursaries
- USA TODAY, April 11, 2019, “US Leading Countries Among Countries That Spend Most on Public Health”
- Workindenmark.dk, Childcare and Day Care in Denmark
- BBC, 30 December 2016, “Can Denmark’s spacious childcare system survive?”
- Tax Foundation, February 24, “Insights into the Tax Systems of Scandinavian Countries”
- Corruption Perception Index 2016
- World population survey, least corrupt countries 2020
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