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More happy Russians

Russians are getting more happy, the World Happiness Report 2015 concludes.

Russia climbs four places in the World Happiness Ranking 2015. Meanwhile, neighboring Nordic countries appear to lose ground.

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In 2015 Russia became the 64th happiest country in the world and improved its place in the rank by four positions compared to 2013. Meanwhile some Nordic countries, on the contrary, lost their status as the most welfare ones, shows the latest World Happiness report. But does it really mean that Scandinavians’ life become worse, while that of Russians works out for the best?

According to the figures of 2012-2014, among the Nordic countries Norway went down from honorary 2nd to the 4th place in the rank, Sweden lost three positions and took the 8th place, and only Finland improved its status by one position and rose to the 6th place. Actually the reasons for such changes are different. Thus, as statistics of Patchwork Barents shows, Northern Norway faced increase in crime rate. If in 2010 there were registered 29 103 crimes, in 2012 their number grew up to 29 438. Moreover, pensions in the region became lower. In 2013 every elderly citizen of Northern Norway earned in average 34 441 USD, whereas in 2011 for one pensioner there was 35 041 USD. Anyway, according to level of salaries and GDP, Norway continues to be the leader in the Barents region.

Despite a significant decrease of general living standards in the country, in Northern Sweden many figures improved. Thus, Swedes started to drink less alcohol: in 2013 residents of the northern part of the kingdom drank 5,3 liters less strong drinks than in 2010, and this is the most positive dynamics among  the Barents countries.  Besides, life in Northern Sweden became longer – according to Patchwork Barents, in Vesterbotten an average life expectancy in 2012-2013 hit the record 81,20 years, in Nordbotten – 80,83 years. The country also experienced decrease of crime rate. In 2012 in Northern Sweden there were registered 49 317 crimes. This is 4 572 crimes more than in 2010, but at the same time dozens of thousands more than in other Arctic regions.

In Northern Finland statistics is also complex. On the one hand, in 2012-2013 an average number of crimes committed a year in the northern part of the country reduced almost by 1 thousand. Life expectancy in Finland also increased from 79,7 to 80,1, and salaries keep steadily growing. On the other hand, Finland rests the most drunken country in the Barents region. Thus, in 2012 one Finn drank 150,01 liters of alcohol that considerably exceeds figures of Norway, Sweden and Russia. Besides, Finland faced a sharp reduction of pensions - from 20 396 USD in 2010 to 18 379 USD in 2012, and also decrease of GDP - from 35 318 USD in 2010 to 31 801 USD in 2011.

Russia stands apart in this list. Although it is still far away from the top ten most welfare countries in the world, over the last few years the state has experienced considerable changes. This, in the North-West of Russia the crime rate has notably decreased. If in 2010 there were registered 37 640, in 2012 their number shortened to 28 788 and caught figures of Norway and Finland. In 2013 the number of crimes again grew up to 30 655, but is still lower than in previous years. Besides, in the North the life expectancy of Russians increased by two years at once – from 66,9 years in 2010 to 68,8 in 2012. This is the most significant leap in the Barents region. In addition, in the northern areas of the country there is registered the growth of GDP. In 2011 it increased from 30 546 USD to 36 411 USD and in such a way overhauled the GDP of Finland.

However, it can’t be definitely said that life in Russia has become better. The reason for this is the rouble’s crash in December, 2014. As Patchwork Barents earlier reported that the salary level in the Russian north in 2014 declined, the first drop since the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Meanwhile, Russians are struggling to cope with a higher consumer price level. The salary decrease comes on the backdrop of the overall setback in the Russian economy. In 2014, Russian GDP growth was reduced to a modest 0,6 percent.

In 2015, the economy is falling into a recession, which is believed to last into 2016. That is likely to bring the salary level further down.

 

This story is written in cooperation with Patchwork Barents