Despite the economic instability and the often dangerous political climate attached to nations like Venezuela and Colombia, the whole of Latin America is apparently a great place to experience everyday happiness.

According to a Gallup poll that ranks 143 countries, Latin American countries, as upset as they may seem to be when reading stories about protests wherein people are banging pots to get rid of a president like Nicolas Maduro, make up the top 10 happiest countries in the world.

And Paraguay, a landlocked country bordered by Argentina and Brazil, is numero uno on the list.

The information comes from 2014 Gallup Positive Experience Index, which surveyed about 1,000 people in each country and asked them a set of questions about how they felt the day before.

The questions, which dealt with whether they had laughed or smiled, felt well rested and felt as if they were treated with respect, were asked either in person or over the phone.

All of the participants were 15 years of age or older.

Participants were also asked whether they had learned something interesting the day before and whether they had felt enjoyment.

Overall it looks like the world is doing okay.

As reported in Life Science, more than 70 percent of the respondents worldwide expressed that they experienced enjoyment, smiled or laughed, felt well rested, and felt that they were treated with respect.

Half of the participants interviewed said that they had learned or done something interesting the day before the interview.

So here is the list of happy countries in order descending joy: Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

The United States, by the way, is tied with 11 other countries, including Argentina and Canada, as the 15th happiest country on Earth.