Switzerland is the happiest nation on Earth, with America 15th and Britain 21st

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List is dominated by European nations - particularly those in Scandinavia
Switzerland is now the happiest nation, with Iceland the most rapid riser
Reasons range from strong GDP to beautiful scenery and a vibrant culture
UK ranks at a lowly 21, although Brits are happier now than back in 2012
World's least happy nations are unsurprisingly places ravaged by war and extreme poverty, such as Syria, Burundi and Togo

By John Hall for MailOnline

Published: 04:46 EST, 24 April 2015 | Updated: 21:07 EST, 24 April 2015

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Switzerland is the world's happiest nation thanks to healthy GDP figures, strong social bonds and an increasing life expectancy, a new study of global wellbeing has revealed.

The list is dominated by European nations, particularly those in Scandinavia, and measures a country's population by factors contributing to its citizens' contentment, rather than wealth.

Britons are happier now than they were two years ago, the study found, but still ranks in at a relatively lowly 21st place. And despite often mocking its northern neighbour as an inferior nation, the United States is a full 10 places below Canada, ranking at 10th and fifth respectively.

Unsurprisingly the world's least happy countries are places ravaged by war and extreme poverty - with Syria, Burundi and Togo taking their place at the bottom of the 158-nation strong list.

Celebration: Switzerland is the world's happiest nation thanks to healthy GDP figures, strong social bonds and an increasing life expectancy, a new study of global wellbeing has revealed

Spectacular: Icelandic citizens are now so happy that the country jumped from number nine in 2013 to number two this year, thanks in part to their well beautiful scenery (pictured) and cultural history

The 2015 World Happiness Report is the third of its kind and is edited by a team of renowned academics and analysts - among them American economist Jeffrey Sachs and head of the London School of Economics' 'wellbeing' programme, Richard Laynard.

First published in 2012, the study uses a range of factors to determine how happy a nation is, ranging from purely domestic perspectives - such as GDP and life expectancy figures - to how its citizens view themselves and their country within the world at large.

THE 10 HAPPIEST NATIONS

1. Switzerland 6. Finland

2. Iceland 7. Netherlands

3. Denmark 8. Sweden

4. Norway 9. New Zealand

5. Canada 10. Australia

This year's study is the first to additionally break the statistics down by age and gender, however, with it possible for readers to find, for example, that a country ranking relatively highly overall, has a hidden population of deeply unhappy young women concerned about equal rights and pay.

The top 10 on the list is dominated by nations from Scandinavia - which are unsurprisingly also among the wealthiest on the planet too.

Equally unsurprising are the countries lower at the bottom of the list - almost all of which are in the midst by bloody civil war, political unrest or crushing poverty.

One surprising anomaly, however, is Palestine, which came just below the midway point in the study at number 108, despite being ravaged by conflict.

Happiness: The top 10 on the list is dominated by nations from Scandinavia. Citizens of these countries, such as Swedish nationals (pictured) are unsurprisingly also among the wealthiest on the planet too

Fierce rivalry: Despite often mocking their northern neighbour as an inferior nation, U.S. nationals (left) are a full 10 places below Canadians (right), ranking at 10th and fifth respectively

Low ranking: Unsurprisingly the world's least happy countries are places ravaged by war and extreme poverty - with Syria (pictured) Burundi and Togo taking their place at the bottom of the 158-nation strong list

The idea of assessing nations by the citizens level of happiness, rather than simply by wealth, is something promoted by the EU, who consider it a more accurate representation of the population as a whole.

While many of the study's headline findings were relatively predictable, the wellbeing test becomes far more interesting when experts being analysing the biggest rises and falls.

THE 10 LEAST HAPPY NATIONS

149. Chad 154. Rwanda

150. Guinea 155. Benin

151. Ivory Coast 156. Syria

152. Burkina Faso 157. Burundi

153. Afghanistan 158. Togo

Greece, which is crippled by national debt and faces an increasingly uncertain future, is by far the fastest declining nation on the list.

Other European nations that suffered the worst during the global recession, such as Spain and Italy, have also plummeted in the happiness stakes.

Recent economic difficulties do not guarantee a country tumbling down the rankings, however.

Both Ireland and Iceland suffered financial woes towards the end of the last decade, but the wellbeing of their populations appear to have been more affected by improvements in health and social issues.

In fact Icelandic citizens are now so happy that the country has jumped from number nine in 2013 to number two, pushing the world's previously most happy nation, Denmark, down into third place thanks their country's perceived level of generosity, as well beautiful scenery and cultural history.

A look inside one of Iceland's incredible ice caves (related)