The combination of a Mediterranean-style diet, low alcohol consumption, strong family and cultural values, and an excellent healthcare system could be the main factors that put Israel in fifth place worldwide on the longevity scale, according to National Geographic Travel.

This ranking was one of the aspects noted as significant by the authors of a newly issued UN report on the level of happiness in 156 countries.

In the overall happiness ranking, Israel came in 11th behind Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia. The Jewish state was in 12th place in terms of happiness among foreign-born citizens.

(via Israel21c)

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