Switzerland topped the third annual World Happiness index produced by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), an initiative under the United Nations. It was closely followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Canada.

Togo, Burundi, Benin and Rwanda, with civil-war wracked Syria, were least happy. The World Happiness Report examined 158 countries and is aimed at influencing government policy.

The study bases its rankings on data from the Gallup World Poll and takes into account variables such as real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, corruption levels and social freedoms.

“Increasingly happiness is considered a proper measure of social progress and goal of public policy,” the report said.

“A rapidly increasing number of national and local governments are using happiness data and research in their search for policies that could enable people to live better lives”.

The SDSN is comprised of people from academia, government and the private sector and was first launched in 2012.

Meanwhile Srilanka has been placed in 132nd position among the happiest countries.