The nations buzzed around the large book, all eager to see where they placed on the list. Earlier that year, the UN had conducted a global survey to find out the happiness of each country, and now the results had arrived.

"I'm in seventeenth place?! No way! I should be higher!" America protested. "I mean, you're all just a bunch of grumps compared to me!"

"America, loudly stating all of your thoughts and feelings doesn't necessarily make you a happier person." Canada tried to explain, but America didn't pay attention.

"Canada, what place did you get?"

"Sixth."

"Sixth?! How?"

"I guess I don't worry as much as you do." Canada replied confidently.


"Ha ha, guess who's officially the happier man?" England jeered, pointing at France.

"Whatever, I still have a better love life!"

"Why would I want to be you, anyway? I like my life the way it is!"

A hand tapped on England's shoulder and he turned around.

"Mr England, I'm one place higher than you!" Belgium said with a smile, before skipping away to join Netherlands.

"So my brother, what place did you get?" She asked cheerily, hopping beside him.

"Fourth." He answered without changing his expression.


"I can't believe it..." Hungary moaned in despair. "I'm in one hundred and tenth place. Am I really that unhappy?"

"Well, you could always like, take some anger management sessions." suggested Poland, who was in fifty-first place. "They really do work."


Meanwhile, the Eastern Europeans stood together discussing their results.

"Sixty-eight," said Russia.

"Eighty-eight." Latvia whimpered.

"Eighty-seven." Ukraine murmured, lowering her head in shame.

"Ninety." Romania said quietly, which caused Ukraine to raise her head again just a bit.

"Seventy-two." Estonia said sheepishly. He turned to Lithuania curiously.

"Seventy-one." Lithuania muttered under his breath, before glancing at Belarus. She glared at him before speaking, her voice barely a whisper.

"Sixty-six..."

The Eastern Europeans all paused in disbelief at Belarus' answer. She may have received only sixty-sixth place, but it was still higher than any of them. Was she really the happiest?


"Hey, I only got sixty-third place." Vietnam said anxiously, tapping on Thailand's shoulder.

"Yes? What of it?"

"You need to give me more smiling lessons!"

"It's not that simple..." Thailand chuckled. "Happiness is something you need to work towards yourself..."


As everyone in the room chatted about each others' results, Mr United Nations took the time to make a announcement.

"Nations of the world, don't be too discouraged by how you placed. Even those who are in the top ten have a lot to improve, after all."

"Easy for him to say..." Hungary grumbled to Poland.

"So who is in the top ten?!" America shouted above everyone else. "I want to know!"

Mr United Nations looked at America and gave a sigh. He walked over and unflinchingly recited their names for the young man to hear.

"Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Austria, Iceland and Australia, in that exact order."

"W-Who?!" America stammered cluelessly.

"Us!" Denmark cheered as he approached America, followed by the other Nordics.

"Nordic Pride!" They all exclaimed, high fiving each other.


I got the information from here, if you're curious: 2013/09/09/world-happiness-report-happiest-countri es_n_

There are plenty of other countries that I didn't include in this chapter, but you can always find out how they placed yourself if you're interested.

Also, just because a country is happier than another, it doesn't necessarily make it a better place to go, if you get what I mean.