To mark the inaugural UN-declared International Day of Happiness on March 20, 2013 we’ve put together the National Happiness Barometer. This research shows that as a nation, we don’t feel as happy as we did 5 years ago. For every person who feels that we are happier than we were in 2008, 11 people say we’re not as happy. More than half of the population state that they are about average in happiness, 29% say they are happier than average, and 17% are less happy than average. This research indicates that an awareness of where one’s income sits compared to average influences one’s perception of happiness. Simply put, people who know they earn more than average feel that they must be happier than average as well. So the take away: true happiness is not related to earnings, not based on how others compare, and while it can be influenced by, it is not determined by our external environment.