Why are the Finns so happy?
Ever seen Finnish Formula 1 drivers Kimi Raikkonen or Mika Hakkinen be interviewed? They do not say much. Monotone, one-word answers are common. You would not necessarily conclude they are happy or joyful people.
My mother is Finnish, so I have been around Finnish people my whole life. Silence is par for the course at Finnish social gatherings. I know an Aussie who lived in Helsinki for three years and he once stood in a circle of six Finnish men where no one spoke for 5 minutes. The other five people were completely comfortable with the silence – the Aussie was almost doing backflips such was his discomfort.
They are a weird mob the Finnish. And they were recently named the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year. Despite outward appearances, they are clearly enjoying their lives. What makes them so happy?
World Happiness Survey
Some may scoff at the notion of a World Happiness Survey, but why not? If we are tracking the value of a basket of publicly listed stocks, why not track the happiness of people?
The survey relies on this Cantril ladder life evaluation question:
Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?
Finland scored 7.8 on this scale. In comparison, Australia scored 7.1, the U.S scored 6.9 and the U.K scored 6.8.
Why are Finns happier and what can we learn from this?
I have read many articles trying to understand why Finland has the highest happiness test score. It is unlikely to be because of the land border with Russia (my grandfather had a few issues to contend with 80 years ago) or the winter weather. Instead, here are some feasible explanations on why Finns are happy:
Independence from Social Comparison - There is a famous line by a Finnish poet: “Kell’ onni on, se onnen kätkeköön.” Roughly translated, it means: Do not compare or brag about your happiness. Finns appear to set their own standards to aspire to. Overt displays of wealth in Finland are rare, as people focus on co-operation rather than competition. A Finnish proverb says, ‘Happiness is a place between too little and too much’.
The Finnish cultural value of not comparing one's happiness or bragging about it suggests a focus on intrinsic contentment rather than extrinsic validation. This approach might contribute to reduced feelings of envy or inadequacy, fostering a sense of self-worth and fulfillment.
Connection with nature – Finns are entitled to four weeks of holiday in summer – the time of year when the sun never sets. Finns take advantage of this to enjoy the outdoors whilst they can – one survey showed 87% of Finns think nature is important. And research shows nature increases our vitality, well-being and gives us a sense of personal growth. A few more indoor plants are also a clever idea.
High levels of Trust – research shows trust is a crucial ingredient for social cohesion and well-being. The higher the levels of trust within a country, the happier its citizens are. A ‘lost wallet’ experiment in 2022 dropped 192 wallets in 16 cities around the world. In Helsinki, 11 out of 12 wallets were returned to the owner. Finnish people tend to trust each other and value honesty, which can create a sense of security and interconnectedness that contributes to happiness. If you leave a laptop on a train, most Finns will feel confident they’ll get it back. Creating more trust in a community is not easy, particularly when the state of politics focuses on division rather than unity. But small acts like opening doors for strangers or giving up your seat on a busy train can help make a difference.
Income Equality and Social Services – relatively lower income inequality, combined with a robust social welfare system, ensures access to education, healthcare, and social services for all citizens. This equality can lead to greater feelings of security and overall well-being.
The highest paid 10% of Finns take home 33% of all income, compared to 46% of all income in the US. Tax rates on the biggest earners in Finland are high – it can be close to 60% - but this has afforded the country a superb public education system, lower homelessness, and a health service with waiting times that are the envy of the world – often just a matter of days, even during the pandemic. When even the poorest people get the best education and healthcare, as a community it creates a sense of contentment.
Cultivation of Contentment - The Finnish notion of enjoying life and finding happiness through simple pleasures aligns with the philosophy of contentment. Embracing what one has and appreciating the present moment can lead to a more stable and lasting form of happiness.
Another Finnish saying is “Onni ei tule etsien, vaan eläen”, which translates as “Happiness is not found by searching, but by living.” Happiness does not always have to be a soaring sense of bliss; instead, there’s value in enjoying what you have and fostering a feeling of contentment, rather than chasing those dizzying highs. That is not to say you can’t aspire to big dreams or try to make improvements – just that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about striving for some elusive ideal. This again resonates with the Gap and the Gain philosophy - https://loricapartners.com.au/insights/the-gap-and-the-gain
Sauna Culture – there are more saunas (pronounced ‘sow-na’ rather than ‘saw-na’) than cars in Finland. The communal nature of saunas encourages social bonding, fosters inclusivity, and creates an atmosphere of equality. People enjoy communal saunas and, because everyone is stripped down, there are no obvious signs of profession or social status. Relaxing together in saunas creates a level playing field. I have a little one-person sauna at home which I think is all you need to reap the health benefits of a good sweat – not sure I agree with my relatives in Finland who are comfortable to build saunas large enough to fit 10+ people, so they can enjoy a sauna with their in-laws(!).
None of the observations above are ground-breaking, but it is a further reminder that running you own race in life, measuring what you have achieved rather than what you don’t have, and maintaining strong social connections collectively help you enjoy more of what time you have.
Author: Rick Walker
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