Back in the day, I worked at one of the happiest places on Earth. Forget Disneyland, I’m talking about Australia’s most cult-followed scoop shop, Gelato Messina. It was the type of place that people rarely left without a smile on their dial.
Travelling to Australia is a lot like that gelato bar experience. Tourists come for a slice of the good times and leave with a sweet aftertaste that tempts many (particularly Irish and Brits) to make the big move. Australia isn’t just a happy place for travellers, but also for the lucky souls who call this stunning country home.
Down Under, we’ve got it all – beautiful beaches to lap up the sunshine, bushwalks that make your soul sing and a feast of global nosh showcasing our nation’s rich cultural diversity. Toss in world-class education, public healthcare and overall safety, and you’ve really got the whole package.
I’ve been fortunate to call Australia home for the majority of my 25 years, and can confidently say it’s one of the happiest places on the planet. And it’s not just my bias speaking, with Australia recently being named among the top ten happiest countries in 2024.
Every year, Gallup, a consultancy and market research firm, in association with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford (UN), release a World Happiness Report, which ranks more than 140 nations from most to least happy. They gather data by asking people from each country to rate their life satisfaction over the previous three years on a scale from one to ten. While the rankings are based solely on individual survey responses, the researchers use six main factors to account for differences between nations, including GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
This year, Australia jumped two ranks to be named the tenth happiest country on Earth in 2024. We were one of the only non-European countries to make the top ten, with Finland securing the top spot for the seventh year in a row (those sauna sessions must be working wonders).
Why Australia is a happy place to live
For me, life in Australia really is that good – and we sure know how to make the most of it. Aside from the obvious drawcards – our beautiful beaches, stunning natural scenery and warm climate – Aussies benefit from a pretty healthy work-life balance, allowing us to fully lean into that laidback lifestyle we’re known for.
Australia also boasts one of the highest standards of living globally, largely thanks to our accessible public healthcare, world-class education and high average income compared to other nations. On top of that, Australia is also a relatively safe place to live and home to a melting pot of cultures. Sure, we may cop flak for not having a 'national cuisine,’ but who needs one when you've got a world of flavours right at your doorstep?
What decreases the happiness levels of people living in Australia
For the very first time in 2024, the UN’s World Happiness Report zeroed in on the happiness of people in different age groups. The results were somewhat worrying, with young people rating their happiness lower in most countries around the world, except Europe.
Australia saw a happiness ranking of 19 among the under-30s, while those over 60 ranked significantly higher in ninth place. We have no doubt that social media and rising living costs have something to do with this, with recent financial stressors including Australia’s soaring house and rental prices.
What my average day living in Sydney, Australia looks like
My favourite way to wake up is with a big, beautiful run along Sydney’s sparkly foreshore, soaking in all our city’s best sights – the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanic Gardens, to name a few. Weekends call for a fresh pastry post-run, but on weekdays, it’s straight to the office. I’m lucky to live a 20-minute walk from my workplace but recognise that Australia’s public transport isn’t too shabby at the best of times for those living further afield
Work is such a happy place for me, and while the Time Out team all work incredibly hard, we share lots of hearty laughs throughout the day. Our flexible work hours allow me to sneak in a late afternoon swim if I fancy clocking off early, but you’d more often find me catching up with friends for dinner – whether it’s trying out one of the hottest new restaurants recommended by our Sydney Food & Drink Editor, Avril Treasure, or hosting a cosy dinner party at home.
So, does Australia deserve bragging rights as one of the happiest countries in the world? It might not be perfect, but you’ll find sun, surf and smiles all around. You can see the full ranking of the world’s happiest countries here.
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