U.N. Report: Lower Population Growth Means Happier People

On September 9, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network released its 2013 World Happiness Report.

The three happiest countries, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, have low population growth, a conclusion that the report did not directly make but which comes as no surprise to Californians for Population Stabilization. Denmark, Norway and Switzerland have annual population growth rates of 0.24, 0.33 and 0.2 percent, respectively. By comparison, the 17th ranked United States has an unsustainable 0.9 percent growth rate and is the world’s third-most-populated nation behind China and India. California’s overall current growth is 0.8 percent, but many counties increased by more than 1 percent. Santa Clara County experienced the state’s highest growth rate, 1.6 percent.

Growth creates problems which in turn produces unhappiness. Traffic, sprawl, pollution, overcrowding and loss of open space add frustration to residents’ daily routines.

Another similarity among Denmark, Norway and Switzerland is that, unlike the U. S., none of their governments is considering a comprehensive immigration bill that would invite millions more immigrants during the next two decades. Congress has so little regard for higher populations’ inevitable negative affects that it purposely omitted an environmental impact report from the Senate bill which would swell the nation’s already bursting population.

The U.N. encouraged governments when making policy decisions to consider their citizens’ happiness, because trouble-free people live longer, are more productive and earn more. Unfortunately, the U.S. is committed to pushing for higher population through its irresponsible immigration agenda.