If you’re fortunate enough to have visited Israel, you probably noticed that, despite the obvious security concerns and other problems unique to the Middle East, Israelis always seem to be pretty relaxed and content.
Now, in a Gallup poll published in Forbes magazine, Israel, as it turns out, is not only a content nation, it is also one of the world’s happiest countries.
Israel placed eighth in the poll which saw thousands of respondents from 155 countries took part ranking their level of satisfaction on a number of different issues. Respondents also measured their "daily experiences" and gave a score to factors including whether they felt well-rested, respected, free of pain and intellectually engaged.
The poll showed that more than 60 percent of Israel's citizens are "thriving", while only 3 percent were found to be "suffering."
Israel tied for eighth place on the list with Australia, Canada, and Switzerland, while Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are home to the happiest folks. The United States came in at number 11, while the West African nation of Togo was found to be the least happy country.
6. Israel
Life satisfaction score: 7.4 (tied for 6th)
Employment rate: 60% (11th lowest)
Self-reported good health: 81% (7th highest)
Employees working long hours: 18.92% (3rd highest)
Disposable income: n/a
Educational attainment: 82% (12th highest)
Life expectancy: 81.7 years (6th highest)
Israelis live long, healthy lives. The country has a low obesity rate of 13.8%, and 81% of those surveyed report their health to be "good" or "very good." By comparison, Americans' average life expectancy is 3 years lower, and the U.S. obesity rate is 33.8% among adults.
70% of Israelis surveyed feel safe walking home at night. And although Israelis work long hours -- 18.92% work at least 50 hours a week -- life satisfaction remains high.