@Athena I am not sure that they are the happiest. I have been to some very poor countries and yes they do smile but that doesn't mean that they are happy. If your stomach is growling and you don't know how to pay your rent or feed your children I find it difficult to think that one would be happy.

@Athena I take your point and I know first hand through working with an international aid charity for a number of years and visiting our projects in Africa and Asia, that the simplest of things can bring great happiness to people who have virtually nothing. However, it is much harder to be happy and poor in a rich country, because we can see the material things all around us which we are told we need to be happy. The advertising industry is in the business of selling the idea that we can only be happy if we have the latest models and gadgets, this of course is not where true happiness lies, but it has an irresistible pull for millions. It makes people unhappy to not have what others have, and gets them into debt by encouraging them to live beyond their means, thus piling on the unhappiness.

Even if it last for a brief time. I'll take it.