World Happiness Report | Committee to Protect Journalists | Reporters Without Borders
Switzerland is the happiest place in the world, according to the latest World Happiness Report. The United States ranks 15th, and at the bottom sits Togo. (Both The Guardian and The Washington Post have visualizations of the data.) But how do these countries fare with freedom of the press rankings?
Here’s a quick look at the top five, the bottom five, the U.S., China and Iran.
1. Switzerland:
Touring skiers climb during the 68th edition of the “Trophees du Muveran” a Ski Mountaineering race through the Swiss Alps, near Les Plans-sur-Bex, Switzerland, Sunday, April 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Keystone,Jean-Christophe Bott)
Switzerland ranks 20th in Reporters Without Borders 2015 World Press Freedom Index, that’s down five spots from the year before. According to the report, “In 2014, no journalists and no net-citizens were killed.”
2. Iceland
In this aerial view, smoke and lava rise from a fissure in the ground on the north side of the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Stefano Di Nicolo)
Iceland ranks in the 21st spot in the World Press Freedom Index. It’s down 13 spots from the year before. RWB notes that no journalists were killed in Iceland in 2014.
3. Denmark
The solar eclipse as it appeared over the isle of Moen in Southeast Denmark, Friday March 20, 2014. (AP/Photo / Per Rasmussen, POLFOTO) DENMARK OUT
Denmark is also in the third spot in RWB’s 2015 World Press Freedom Index, up four spots from the previous year. No journalists were killed in Denmark in 2014, RWB notes. Denmark held the index’s top spot in 2009, 2005 and 2004.
4. Norway
Tourists exit the caves on the island of Nolsoy in the Faeroe Islands May 25, 2007. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
Norway ranks second in RWB’s World Press Freedom Index, up a spot from the year before. No journalists were killed there in 2014. Norway ranked in the top spot on the index in 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002. It’s lowest ranking came in 2006, when it was in 6th spot.
5. Canada
Tourists take a ride to the base of Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist tour boat in Niagara Falls, Canada, Wednesday, June 13, 2012. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Canada ranks eighth in RWB’s World Press Freedom Index. It climbed a whopping 10 spots from the year before. According to RWB, no journalists were killed in Canada in 2014. Since 1992, CPJ reports only two journalists have been killed in Canada.
Australia ranks 25th on the World Press Freedom Index and in 10th in the Happiness Report. The rest of the top 10 countries on the World Happiness Report rank in the top six in the press freedom index.
15. United States
An alligator hangs out in the water while President Barack Obama walks nearby on the Anhinga Trail at Everglades National Park, Fla, Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Obama visited the Everglades on Earth Day to talk about how global warming threatens the U.S. economy. He says rising sea levels are putting the “economic engine for the South Florida tourism industry” at risk. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Unlike those countries in the top spots, the U.S.’s World Press Freedom ranking isn’t too close to its World Happiness ranking. In 2015, the U.S. ranked 49 on the index, down three spots from the year before. RWB reports that no journalists were killed in the U.S. in 2014. The closest the U.S. has gotten to the top of the list was in 2002, when it ranked 17th. CPJ has written about the United States several times already this year, including how the administration treats journalists and how the government is using surveillance on journalists.
At the bottom
-Rwanda ranks in the 154th spot in the Happiness Report. It’s 161 of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index. RWB reports that no journalists were killed there in 2014. CPJ reports that 17 journalists have been killed in Rwanda since 1992.
-Benin is in the 155th spot in the Happiness Report. It’s 84th in the press freedom index and RWB reports that no journalists died there in 2014.
-Syria is 156 in the Happiness Report. On the 2015 World Press Freedom Index, it ranked 177 of 180. RWB reports that 15 journalists were killed there last year. Syria has 12 journalists imprisoned in CPJ’s prison report and 80 journalists have been killed there since 1992.
-Burundi ranks 157 on the Happiness Report. It’s in at 145 on the press freedom index. No journalists were killed there in 2014, RWB reports, and two journalists have been killed there since 1992, according to CPJ.
-Finally, Togo ranked in the bottom spot on the happiness report. In the world press freedom index, it’s a full 100 spots from the bottom, at 80th. No journalists were killed there last year, RWB reports.
Two more comparisons — China ranks 84th in the World Happiness Report, and Iran ranks 110th. China is 176 out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. No journalists were killed there in 2014, RWB reports, and two have been killed there since 1992, CPJ reports. CPJ also reports that China currently has 44 journalists in prison. Iran ranks 173 of 180 on the press freedom index. No journalists were killed there last year and four have been killed since 1992, CPJ reports. Iran currently has 30 journalists in prison, CPJ reports.
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