Sad Italians? World Happiness Report places Italians in 45th place on the happiness scale.

Northern Europeans are world’s happiest people; Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain fall dramatically down rankings because of recent economic, social and cultural crisis: “They say sunshine is a key to happiness, but that theory seems to have been busted by this year's World Happiness Report, which places Italians in 45th place on the happiness scale, while people in chilly Scandinavia top the list” (The Local). United States are ate the 17th  place in the ranking.
Below the Happiness Top Ten...

1. Denmark

2. Norway

3. Switzerland

4. Netherlands

5. Sweden

6. Canada

7. Finland

8. Austria

9. Iceland

10. Australia

You can read the full 2013 World Happiness Report and check all the criteria they have adopted.