A poll by Gallup and Healthways Global reports that Panama now has the world’s most positive and happy population, after 133,000 people from 135 countries were asked to rate their wellbeing in five categories: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

The Central American country topped four of the categories, with neighbour Costa Rica closely following as the second happiest country. Denmark dropped to third, a fact that is blamed by some on the increased individuality – or interest in neo-conservative values – among the young, and threats to Denmark’s welfare state.

Cultural attache for Panama, Laura Montenegro, thinks this is owing to a thriving economy and a retention of traditional values. “Family bonds are very strong here, and on Sundays everyone still gets together,” she says. “So even when people are struggling they don’t feel alone. We have a very beautiful landscape too and even in Panama city you never feel too far from nature. We have a booming economy and financial stability. When the global financial crisis hit, Panama came out of it even better than before, because our banks had been very cautious.” (The Guardian)

Note that all the top ten happiest countries are small, relative to the US, China, India and Brazil etc (see my comment below for the latest list). For centuries human beings have lived in small village communities where everyone knew one another. We all do better in small, manageable groups and feel cut loose in giant cities. I grew up around London and love being there, but I realize that for many people, who know no one, it must be overwhelming, as New York is a bit overwhelming to me. Maybe people feel a better sense of belonging in a small, homogeneous country, where there are shared values and tastes (or indeed a small group in an Epicurean garden)? If so, this has a bearing upon attitudes to massive immigration.