Where In The World Are Gay Men The Happiest?

By Joseph Merlo // Photo via The Washington Post

Not happy? If you’re a gay man it might be time to move—at least according to a new survey of 115,000 gay men from around the globe. The Washington Post reports that this newly released survey, a collaboration between Johannes Gutenberg of Mainz, a German university, and Planet Romeo, an Amsterdam-based dating site, may be able to help you find your happy place.

The survey has taken into account how gay men feel about themselves, each other, and the society in which they live. Turns out, if you want to be happy move to Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay, Denmark, Israel, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, or Luxembourg (where the first ever openly gay prime minster in the history of the world, Xavier Bettel, lives!).

Or...stay in the United States, the 26th best ranked country in the list. But maybe get off Grindr and Scruff and find a boyfriend because 37 percent of participants in the top 20 countries ranked were in a committed relationship with another man.

Either way, where shouldn’t you live? The survey says that the 10 worst countries in this ranking include, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Cameroon, Iran, Nigeria, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda.
Is there no place like home? Maybe...or maybe not.

Read the full survey here.

About Joseph Merlo

Joseph Merlo is a poet, playwright, and artist who has worked all over the world, including Greece and Ghana, where he completed a documentary on the illegality of homosexuality called 'Voices.' He has worked with the Westport Country Playhouse, the Lark Play Development Center, and Dixon Place. Joseph lives in Washington Heights, NYC, and is the co-host of Siren Den, a monthly showcase for artists at Smalls Jazz Club in the West Village.