In this year’s ‘World Happiness Report’, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Romania have been included in the countries where people under the age of 30 are happiest.
The report, which was released in March 2024, came as no surprise to Scandinavian countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, but a surprising trend was that a few new countries also made it to the top of the list. are
According to the survey, during the last three years, Central and Eastern European countries have surpassed some of their Western European neighbors in this regard.
The Czech Republic and Lithuania make it to the top 20 countries for the first time in the list and are ranked 18th and 19th respectively. Slovenia is just behind them in 21st place. In the same report, the United Kingdom is ranked 20th, Germany, 24th, Spain, 36th, and Italy, 41st.
Residents of the area and frequent travelers to these areas are not surprised. Tim Leffel, author of The World’s Cheapest Destinations, is quoted as saying: “There are better jobs here, so young people are not going anywhere else in Europe to work.” When I first visited Romania and Bulgaria over a decade ago, some villages were just old people. Now you see more young people around, so that gives everyone good hope for the future.’
With GDP per capita rising rapidly since the early 2000s, many Central and Eastern Europeans now feel that they have equal opportunities for happiness, an important component of a high standard of living. is the index.
Apart from economic development, these countries are also investing in infrastructure, developing cultural landscapes and capitalizing on their outstanding natural beauty.
To better understand the ‘World Happiness Report’, we spoke to citizens of these countries and recently visited tourists.
Lithuania
Lithuania ranks 19th overall in the ‘World Happiness Report’ while topping the list of countries where people under the age of 30 are the happiest. According to residents, the quality of life in Lithuania has improved significantly in recent decades.
Jorga Robinovite, founder and CEO of Lithuanian travel blog ‘Full Suitcase’, said: ‘Most people in Lithuania, especially the younger generation, are really happy. Despite constant chatter on the news about the war in Ukraine and the growing possibility of war in the Baltic states, people seem to enjoy and appreciate life more than ever.’
He says that since independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuanians are free to study, work and travel anywhere in the world.
Robinhoite said her mother often said, ‘My life has never been better than it is now. The younger generation has no idea what life was like before the independence of Lithuania. But all of them have heard the stories of their parents and grandparents. I think that’s one of the reasons why people are happier now because they value the freedom they have more than ever before.’
She also credits the country’s maternity/paternity policies in this regard. In Lithuania, mothers are given 126 days of maternity leave and fathers are given 30 days of leave with full pay.
The vibrant cultural scene of the capital, Vilnius, is a source of joy for Lithuanian resident Ramanta Lailite Asbalbi. She loves its closeness to nature, its inclusive community spirit, opportunities for creative expression and personal growth.
She points to important cultural events such as the UNESCO World Heritage celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Lithuanian Song Festival in June and July this year.
It is a once-in-four-year opportunity to witness a massive concert of hundreds of choirs and thousands of people singing together on a huge open-air stage, he explained. The festival is of great importance to all of us because of its role in preserving Lithuania’s national identity during the Soviet occupation, which is why it is referred to as the ‘Song Revolution.’
The country’s proximity to nature and a better work-life balance also offer an easy path to happiness here. According to Robinovite, ‘Lithuanians love the outdoors. They take every opportunity to get out of the city and enjoy forests, lakes and beautiful beaches.’
Sabalbi advises visitors to Lithuania to check out hiking trails such as the Streva Green Trail near the capital Vilnius. He said: ‘Its hills with springs that don’t freeze even in winter and it has Lithuanian orchids planted on a small hill.’ She also points to the Karamazinai Nature Trail, an interesting site of pagan rituals and ancient burials.
Romania
Although Romania ranks 32nd in the overall happiness index, it has managed to make the biggest jump in the happiness list over the past decade as Romania was previously ranked 90th in the 2013 World Happiness Report.
The main reason for its increase in rank is the increase in the happiness of young people, and it ranks eighth in terms of respondents under the age of 30.
Some experts attribute this to increased freedom and opportunity. In March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania were the new member states to join the EU’s Schengen area, which guarantees free movement for citizens and visitors without border restrictions. Romania has also invested heavily in infrastructure, improving the quality of life for residents and tourists alike.
Daniel Herzberg, founder of the Travel Insider website, said: ‘Major highways and every city you go to, even small places like Targu Mures, seem to be under construction.’
With an approved infrastructure budget of 17 billion euros for 2021 to 2027, Romania is systematically implementing reforms, including the construction of 1,700 km of motorways, all faster than originally expected. It’s happening fast.
But amid modern developments, traditions are still of utmost importance to locals and tourists alike. “Romanians are proud of everything from the Saxon and Sheklar (and other Hungarian) minorities to Romani and Romanian cultures,” said Alexandra Nema, a current resident there. Transylvania is especially important for you if you want to go cheap, quiet, scenic and full of art.’
Herzberg agrees. According to them, a trip from Transylvania is important to see the best view of the region. To see its medieval castles, start at Bontedia Benfi Castle in Cluj-Napoca (the country’s second most populous city), known as the Versailles of Transylvania.
Then head 270 kilometers south to the small town of Brasov, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, where you can explore its medieval walls and café culture, they say.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic ranks 18th overall on the Happiness Index and 10th on the list of under-30s. The Czech Republic has seen social and cultural progress in recent years that has led to an increase in happiness levels.
Michael Rosenblatt, founder of travel site The World Was Here, said: ‘Apartments and living spaces are small here, so people here value parks, pubs and cafes. He has been living in the capital Prague for two years.
“After the day’s work is over, you’ll find families, couples and groups of friends taking to the green spaces of the city as if it were their collective backyard,” he says. According to him, even in cold weather there is a happy pub and cafe scene and atmosphere that is characteristic of Czech culture.
Government policies on work-life balance are among the reasons for this country’s increase in happiness. These include guaranteed vacation days, comprehensive health care and maternity and paternity leave. Mariko Amikodomo is an American citizen who runs the catering business ‘Mariko Presents’ and now lives in Prague.
“Most employee benefit programs include access to sports, physical activities and even perks like massages and wellness,” he says. People are very happy here because the best quality of life is offered here.
To get a true sense of the culture and landscape, it’s important to get outside of Prague, says Amikodomo and Leffle days. “Even a 30-minute train ride outside the city can take you to beautiful forts, untouched monasteries made of human bones,” Amikodomo said. A 15-minute walk from the city center brings you to the more relaxed atmosphere of the locals.
Leffel recently explored the Pilsen and Spa Triangle regions of the Czech Republic. are.’
Of particular interest to beer lovers, according to him, is Plains distillery Pilsner Urquil. “It’s like a pilgrimage to Bordeaux for a wine lover or a trip to Ethiopia for a coffee lover,” he said.
The country’s ancient beer heritage has recently received international recognition as evidenced by the fact that the city of Zatec has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
