The latest World Happiness Report ranks all the world’s countries by happiness, based on polling of residents plus levels of GDP, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption. This survey finds among 157 nations the happiest are Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, and Sweden among the top 10. The USA ranks 13th, behind Israel and Austria.

Started in 2012, the surveys have pretty consistently put the same countries on top. And they almost all tend to be historically Protestant. In fact, all the world’s historically Protestant countries are near the top, with Great Britain being the lowest, at 23rd. Beyond their hymn sings and after church coffee hours (!), what would elevate Protestant cultures to higher elevations of happiness? Just within Christendom, the Catholic cultures generally have better cuisine, better parties, better dancing, better appreciation of relaxation and leisure, and probably better regard for aesthetics through art, music, and architecture. Catholics typically seem more fun!

Interestingly of the top 30 happiest nations, all but three are historically Christian. Fourteen of the 30 are historically Catholic, one is Jewish (Israel of course), one is Muslim (UAE), twelve are Protestant, one is historically Buddhist (Singapore). Germany, historically divided between Catholic and Protestant weighted toward the latter, is 16th. At the bottom are Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi.

The happiest countries unsurprisingly are wealthy, peaceful, educated, democratic, have rule of law, and strong civil society. It could be said that Protestantism historically generated industry, free enterprise, constitutional democracy, mass literacy, philanthropy, thrift, and suspicion of centralized authority.  No less important is a traditional Protestant emphasis on equality and individual autonomy, facilitating more social mobility and greater personal freedom. The “pursuit of happiness” phrase in the Declaration of Independence is a secularized version of the Protestant quest for earthly joy and accomplishment. Protestantism empowered individuals to seek their own vocation outside structures of hierarchy and tradition. It also helped sacralize everyday life for ordinary people.

Of course, nearly all the traditionally Protestant countries are less religiously Protestant than they once were. America remains the most religious. A recent poll of Norwegians has atheists for the first time outnumbering religious believers. But even secularized post Protestant countries still carry centuries-long cultural habits. Their peoples may no longer be consciously Protestant but still behave in many ways like Protestants.

To what extent can that religiously inspired cultural capital persevere absent some revival of religious faith? There are few if any historical examples of similar secularization to guide us. But for now old Protestant cultures sail forward based on past historical spiritual currents. Current religious vitality throughout the less advantaged, and reputedly less happy Global South, much of it Protestant, may ultimately move those countries into similar economic, political and societal stability and happiness. In some small but identifiable ways, this progression is already happening.