c'mon, get happy.

Here’s a little something to hold onto until November (or until we actually reach Hell in this handbasket we’re clinging to, whichever comes first) . . . a new survey says the world is getting happier.

Really. Researchers have been asking the same two questions of about 350,000 people in 52 countries for the past 17 years: 1) All things considered, would you say you’re very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy? 2) How satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?

And amazingly, the “Happiness Index” created from the responses went up for 40 of the countries, going down for only 12 of them.

Scientists are surprised, since until now, they believed no matter what happens or what we do, basic happiness levels are stable and don’t really change.

Why do they think so many people are getting happier? Their theories are three-fold: 1) Poor countries like China and India are experiencing economic booms; 2) dozens of medium-income countries have been democratized; and 3) there has been a remarkable rise in gender equality, and tolerance of minorities in developed societies.

The study clearly shows the world’s happiest societies are the ones in which people have the freedom to choose how to live their lives.

Denmark is the happiest country, according to the research, and Zimbabwe the unhappiest. The U.S. ranks 16th – maybe because, as a public opinion poll last April revealed, 81% of Americans say they believe the country is on “the wrong track” (the most negative response pollsters have gotten in the 25 years they’ve been conducting the poll).

So here’s to November!! :)