What Countries Smile the Most? #WorldSmileDay

Happy World Smile Day!

What makes you smile? For me, it’s babies, dogs, my family and planning a trip to anywhere fun.

The reason we smile is different for everyone. But one thing is for sure, when a smile is authentic – like a Duchenne smile that turns the lips and cheeks up and crinkles the eyes – it is reflective of true enjoyment and a truly positive experience.

So what countries smile the most? According to recent research, the following countries report the most positive experiences, including the act of smiling.

Countries that Smile the Most (from Gallup’s 2023 Global Emotions Report)

Indonesia
Mexico
Paraguay
Philippines
Vietnam
Guatemala
Panama
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Malaysia

Gallup’s 2023 Global Emotions Report uses the act of smiling as one of their key indicators to measure the world’s positive experiences. Each year, they survey thousands of people all around the world asking if they’ve had five specific positive experiences – including whether or not they smiled or laughed a lot the previous day. Gallup then compiles the “yes” responses into a Positive Experience Index, with the highest or most positive score being 100.

In 2023, the report showed that countries with the highest scores on the Positive Experience Index were from 10 Asian or Latin American countries, suggesting that people in those countries smile the most.

So if you’re looking for a positive emotional boost with a whole lot of smiles, check out the list above and start packing your bags!