Not only is Qatar one of the most peaceful places in the world, it’s also one of the happiest!

According to two separate findings, this tiny thumb-shaped peninsula of just over 1.6 million people is one of the best places on the planet.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranked Qatar 16th out of 144 countries surveyed. The index, now in its third year, ranks countries according to their relative states of peace, based on factors such as respect for human rights and military expenditure.

Qatar took top spot in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and leaped from being 33rd on the list in 2008. It outranked Switzerland and Australia in the Top 20 list and was way ahead of France, United States and the United Kingdom.

The land of peace also garnered special mention in New York Times Bestseller “The Geography of Bliss”. Author Eric Weiner, a correspondent for National Public Radio who often travelled to war-torn or famine-ravaged countries visited some of the world's happiest places to find out just what made them so joyful. His 10-nation journey culminated in “happiness lessons” from around the world.

Weiner’s lesson from Qatar is that “happiness is spreading the wealth to everyone”. Health care is free for all. There’s no tax imposed on individuals, no real estate, inheritance, sales or value-added taxes. This also makes visitors and people doing business in Qatar very happy.

Qatar’s largesse extends outside the country. The Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa
Al Thani, contributed US$100 million to the victims of hurricane Katrina in the U.S, an “extraordinary act of kindness” according to then President George Bush.

Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned is the guiding force behind Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), a non-governmental organisation committed to providing poor Asian countries with quality education