Costa Ricans: Happiest People on Earth

A recent Gallop poll asked people to rate their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10. The results were as follows:
Costa Ricans average 8.5.
Denmark is next at 8.3
The United States ranks 20th at 7.4
and Togo and Tanzania bring up the caboose at 2.6.
More info about Costa Rica from the New York Times: "What sets Costa Rica apart is its remarkable decision in 1949 to dissolve its armed forces and invest instead in education. Increased schooling created a more stable society, less prone to the conflicts that have raged elsewhere in Central America. Education also boosted the economy, enabling the country to become a major exporter of computer chips and improving English-language skills so as to attract American eco-tourists. "
BTW: My husband and I are going there at the end of June!