10 least happy states: 41. Oklahoma 42. Indiana 43. Louisiana 44. Ohio 45. Alabama 46. Arkansas 47. Tennessee 48. Mississippi 49. Kentucky 50. West Virginia
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Hawaii ranks No. 1 for the fourth year in a row as the state where residents report the best sense of overall well-being, based on physical health, outlook on life, job satisfaction and other factors that affect quality of life, according to the annual Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Wednesday.
Other states that have consistently ranked in the top 10 on the well-being index every year from 2008 to 2012 include Utah, Minnesota, Colorado and Montana.Folks in these states tend to have lower rates of obesity and fewer medical problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain. They also report enjoying their jobs more, have lower rates of smoking, and exercise more often than residents in states that rank lower on the list.Five states that have always been in the bottom 10 with the lowest well-being score every year from 2008 to 2012: West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Arkansas and Mississippi.
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Here's a look at the overall state rankings based on how residents described their sense of well being in 2012:1. Hawaii2. Colorado3. Minnesota4. Utah5. Vermont6. Montana7. Nebraska8. New Hampshire9. Iowa10. Massachusetts11, Maryland12. South Dakota13. Wyoming14. Virginia15. Washington16. Connecticut17. Kansas18. California19. North Dakota20. Wisconsin21. Maine22. Idaho23. Arizona24. Oregon25. New Mexico26. Delaware27. Texas28. Illinois29. Pennsylvania30. New York31. Alaska32. New Jersey33. Georgia34, Florida35. North Carolina36. Michigan37, Rhode Island38. Missouri39. Nevada40. South Carolina
41. Oklahoma42. Indiana43. Louisiana44. Ohio45. Alabama46. Arkansas47. Tennessee48. Mississippi49. Kentucky50. West Virginia
Hawaiians have highest well-being rating for 4th year
