Oprah Goes to Denmark to Find the Happiest People in the World | The Oprah Winfrey Show | OWN

According to scientific researchers,

the folks in Denmark topped the list

as the happiest people in the world,

and I found out why. Take a look.

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Beautiful Copenhagen,

Denmark's capital city

with its quaint cobblestone streets,

charming canals,

and millions of happy, happy people.

I wanted to know,

what makes the Danes so darn happy?

So I met up with one of the locals

Nanna Nura to find out.

So Nanna and I just met and

you are exactly what I expected.

Tall, lean, blonde.

Is everybody in the whole country

tall, lean, and blonde?

Nanna: Yeah, pretty much

Oprah: Oh, I see some dark haired

people over there. Oh my goodness

Nanna: Yeah, yeah,

they're probably not Danish.

Oprah: They're probably not danish

[both laughing]

[Oprah voice over] Right off the bat

I was intrigued by Denmark's

take on marriage.

Nanna is 44 and single.

Nanna: I don't think it's like

a little girl's dream

to have a big [inaudible] wedding.

Oprah: [surprised] It's not?

Nanna: It's never been mine [inaudible]

Oprah: It's never been your dream, really?

Nanna: My girlfriends had that dream

you know.

Oprah: Oh! 'Cause you know it's such

a big deal in the United States.

Nanna: Oh, to get married?

Oprah: Yes, and actually what I think

in the United States is,

it's a bigger deal to get married

than to actually have a marriage.

Nanna: Yeah, yeah.

[bike bells]

Oprah: But look, all down the street here

bicycles, bicycles, bicycles

[Oprah voice over]

Copenhagen is one of the world's most

environmentally conscious cities.

A third of the population

rides bikes,

many with groceries and kids in tow.

Homelessness, poverty, and unemployment

are extremely low here.

If you lose your job,

The government continues to pay

up to 90% of your salary

for four years.

Nanna: exactly

Oprah: You're never going to be

homeless on the street.

Nanna: Exactly (continues to show agreement)

Oprah: You don't need a man

to take care of you.

And when you don't need a man

to take care of you,

you're with a man

just because you want to be.

Nanna: And now you know

why we're happy.

Oprah: Everything here is

really designed to help children.

Having an education, childcare

taking care of mothers,

who are on maternity leave.

I hear you get a year's maternity leave.

Nanna: Half a year or year

yeah, depending.

Oprah: Good gracious.

Nanna: And then they go to school

that's for free.

And actually, when they go

to university, then you get paid

$400-$500 to go to university.

Oprah: You get paid.

Nanna: It's free and then you get paid.

[Oprah squeals]

It's called the educational support

Oprah: That is amazing!

Nanna: And we're doing that because

if you have a healthy people,

because we have free healthcare,

if you have a healthy people,

and you have free education,

then you have healthy,

well educated people,

and what can be bad?

Oprah:What can be bad?

[cheering]