The 13th edition of the World Happiness Report has named Finland as the happiest country in the world, with Finns reporting an average score of 7.736 (out of 10) when asked to evaluate their lives.
The top five in the list is entirely comprised of European countries, with Denmark in second place (7.521), followed by Iceland (7.515), Sweden (7.345) and the Netherlands (7.306).
Other European countries to feature strongly include Norway (7th, 7.262) Luxembourg (9th, 7.122), Switzerland (13th, 6.935), Belgium (14th, 6.910) and Ireland (15th, 6.889).
Upward trends have also been observed for countries such as Lithuania (16th), Slovenia (19th) and Czechia (20th).
However, the United States has fallen to its lowest-ever position in the rankings, of 24th, while the United Kingdom is at its lowest level since 2017 (23rd).
“Human happiness is driven by our relationships with others. Investing in positive social connections and engaging in benevolent actions are both matched by greater happiness,” commented Lara B. Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, and an editor of the World Happiness Report.
Read more: Overall life satisfaction sees marginal decline in European Union
The findings were published to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness, and are compiled using Gallup World Poll data and other sources, including the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll.
“Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth — it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back,” added Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. “This year’s report proves we underestimate how kind the world really is. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other.”
The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and an independent editorial board. Read more here.
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 7.736 |
| 2 | Denmark | 7.521 |
| 3 | Iceland | 7.515 |
| 4 | Sweden | 7.345 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 7.306 |
| 6 | Costa Rica | 7.274 |
| 7 | Norway | 7.262 |
| 8 | Israel | 7.234 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 7.122 |
| 10 | Mexico | 6.979 |
| 11 | Australia | 6.974 |
| 12 | New Zealand | 6.952 |
| 13 | Switzerland | 6.935 |
| 14 | Belgium | 6.910 |
| 15 | Ireland | 6.889 |
| 16 | Lithuania | 6.829 |
| 17 | Austria | 6.810 |
| 18 | Canada | 6.803 |
| 19 | Slovenia | 6.792 |
| 20 | Czechia | 6.775 |
| 21 | United Arab Emirates | 6.759 |
| 22 | Germany | 6.753 |
| 23 | United Kingdom | 6.728 |
| 24 | United States | 6.724 |
| 25 | Belize | 6.711 |
| 26 | Poland | 6.673 |
| 27 | Taiwan Province of China | 6.669 |
| 28 | Uruguay | 6.661 |
| 29 | Kosovo | 6.659 |
| 30 | Kuwait | 6.629 |
| 31 | Serbia | 6.606 |
| 32 | Saudi Arabia | 6.600 |
| 33 | France | 6.593 |
| 34 | Singapore | 6.565 |
| 35 | Romania | 6.563 |
| 36 | Brazil | 6.494 |
| 37 | El Salvador | 6.492 |
| 38 | Spain | 6.466 |
| 39 | Estonia | 6.417 |
| 40 | Italy | 6.415 |
| 41 | Panama | 6.407 |
| 42 | Argentina | 6.397 |
| 43 | Kazakhstan | 6.378 |
| 44 | Guatemala | 6.362 |
| 45 | Chile | 6.361 |
| 46 | Viet Nam | 6.352 |
| 47 | Nicaragua | 6.330 |
| 48 | Malta | 6.316 |
| 49 | Thailand | 6.222 |
| 50 | Slovakia | 6.221 |
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