North Korea is one of the 'the happiest places on Earth' while U.S. is the lowest (and no prizes for guessing survey was done by North Korea)

It's official, North Korea is one of the 'the happiest places' to live in the world, but only according to country's own regime.



Kim Jong-il's own television station has told the nation that there is hardly anywhere else on earth where people are so smiley.



The joy index, released yesterday, scores the extremist country's allies very highly, with China scoring a perfect 100 out of 100 for quality of life and happy residents.

Barack Obama (left) won't be happy, and nor are the residents of the United States, rated the gloomiest place to live in the world according to research by Kim Jong-il's (right) North Korea

North Korea comes in a close second, with a score of 98, followed by the country's pals Cuba, Iran and Venezuela who all make the top five.

The happiest countries ranked out of 100 1. China - 100

2. North Korea - 98

3. Cuba - 93

4. Iran - 88

5. Venezuela - 85 152. South Korea - 18 203. United States - 3

Researchers from North Korea's Chosun Central Television, the dictatorship's mouthpiece, have found that life within their country, once branded part of the 'axis of evil', could hardly be happier.

This joy could be something to do with the recent announcement of an heir apparent of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,



His father is known for wearing the same clothes, whereas rebel Kim Jong-un likes to experiment and is determined to prove he is very much his own man.

On a recent official state visit to China, he again eschewed his father's favoured green tunic or military uniform to don a navy blue suit.

U.S. or North Korea? How they match up Average wage

U.S. $42,000 a year

N.K. around $50 a year

Cost of house

U.S. $250,000 N.K.: $150



Leader's claim to fame

Barack Obama: The 'Mr Cool' of world politics

Kim Jong-il: Known for his snappy dress sense



Number of McDonald's

U.S. 13,381

N.K. None - although Kim Jong-il claims to have invented the hamburger

Number of golf courses:

U.S. 16,944

N.K. One and in 1994 Kim Jong-il got five holes in one during a 38-under par round there



Average temperature in capital: Washington DC: 12.2c

Pyongyang: 9.75c



But it probably is not the country's football team that is making North Koreans happy, after they lost every game at the last World Cup.

The hapless players spent six hours being lectured, in public, on their failure, during which they were accused of ‘betraying’ dictator Kim Jong-il.

More than 400 government officials, athletes and students looked on as each player was told how their mistakes contributed to the team failing in its ‘ideological struggle’ to win.

Acting under coercion, every player blamed the defeat on coach Kim Jong-hun, who is thought to have been expelled from the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and forced to work, unpaid, as a builder.



But there were no surprises where the saddest and most gloomy place on earth is to live - its arch-enemy the United States - who came in last at 203rd.

People in North Korea's hated neighbour South Korea are nearly as depressed, ranking 152nd on the list.



But despite China's perfect score, their own residents are not so sure about the result.

One comment on China's popular online forum Mop said: 'Please send me to the U.S. so I can suffer too.'

But the claims of happiness will annoy the international community who are hugely critical of the way the regime cares for its people.

The U.N., for example, says the country is suffering from chronic food shortages and needs more than 474,000 tons of food aid to fend off a disaster.