Among Slovenia's neighbours, Austrians are the happiest nation, taking eighth place. Croatia is 58th and Hungary is 110th, while Italy is just behind Slovenia, in 45th place.

In comparison to the first World Happiness Report, which was based on a survey carried out between 2005 and 2007, Slovenia's score increased by 0.24 points.

According to the report complied by the UN and the Earth Institute of the Columbia University, the happiest countries in the world are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The sub-Saharan countries Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Benin and Togo are meanwhile at the bottom of the list of 156 countries.

The report, which is based on data from between 2010 and 2012, finds that the world has become a happier place and a better environment for living in the last five years.

However, the ratings of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain have deteriorated due to the impact of the economic and financial crisis, while the declining scores of Egypt, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia could be attributed to political and social instability.