It's official: We're happier than the Australians

New Zealand has been ranked the 18th happiest country on earth in an international survey.

It ranked higher than the United States (23), Australia (26) and the United Kingdom (41) in the University of Leicester happiness study.

The "world map of happiness" found a nation's level of happiness was closely associated with health levels, followed by wealth and then provision of education.

The analysis was based on findings from more than 100 different studies around the world, which questioned 80,000 people worldwide. The survey used data published by organisations including Unesco, the CIA and the World Health Organisation.

The Danes were found to be the happiest people in the world, followed by Swiss and Austrians. Down the bottom of the list were the Democratic Republic of the Congo (176) and Zimbabwe (177).

In last place was Burundi, which has been embroiled in civil war for the past 13 years.

People living in countries with large populations were not all that happy about their lot: China, in 82nd place was followed by India (125) and Russia (167).

The study found people in countries in the top 10 had a life expectancy close to 80 years, except for Bhutan in eighth place (62.9 years) and The Bahamas (69.7 years).

The survey is due to be published in a psychology journal next month, and then to be presented at a psychology conference.

Happiest nations

1 Denmark
2 Switzerland
3 Austria
4 Iceland
5 The Bahamas
6 Finland
7 Sweden
8 Bhutan
9 Brunei
10 Canada
18 New Zealand