Finland Maintains Top Happiness Ranking
HELSINKI (AP) — This year marks the eighth consecutive occasion that Finland has been recognized as the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report 2025, released on Thursday.
Other Nordic nations also continue to excel in happiness, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden rounding out the top four positions in the rankings presented by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.
Aino Virolainen, a digital commerce director who has spent time living abroad, expresses a strong desire to return to her home country. She shared, “This is where I always want to come back to and where I want to grow my kids and grow old myself. The peace, quietness, and trustworthiness here are incredible, and not to mention the beautiful clean nature and fresh air.”
The rankings are derived from survey responses where individuals rate their life satisfaction. This research was conducted in collaboration with Gallup and the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Jon Clifton, the CEO of Gallup, highlights that “Happiness isn’t just about wealth or economic growth — it’s deeply connected to trust, social bonds, and a reliable community.”
Factors Affecting Happiness
Beyond health and finances, researchers noted that simple factors like sharing meals, having a reliable support system, and household size significantly impact happiness levels. The study indicates that households with four to five individuals tend to report the highest happiness, particularly in Mexico and Europe.
Moreover, the belief in the goodwill of others is more closely linked to happiness than previously understood. For instance, the likelihood of individuals believing their lost wallets would be returned is a good indicator of overall societal happiness. Notably, Nordic countries excel in both expected and actual rates of lost wallet returns.
U.S. Happiness Ranking Plummets
While European nations generally lead the happiness rankings, Israel forged ahead to the eighth position despite ongoing conflicts. Both Costa Rica and Mexico have broken into the top ten for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth respectively. In contrast, the United States has now fallen to its lowest-ever ranking at 24th place, down from a peak of 11th in 2012. This decline is notably accompanied by a 53% increase in the number of Americans dining alone over the last twenty years.
The United Kingdom has also reported its lowest life satisfaction scores since the 2017 report, sitting at 23rd place. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the scale as the unhappiest country, with Afghan women particularly indicating challenging circumstances, followed closely by Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
Social Support Crisis Among Young Adults
A concerning trend revealed that 19% of young adults worldwide reported lacking social support in 2023—a 39% increase since 2006. This comprehensive study ranks nations based on self-assessed life evaluations from 2022 to 2024. Analysts from various fields—including economics and sociology—examine factors like GDP per capita, life expectancy, availability of support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption to explain the disparities in happiness ratings.
Jouni Purhonen, a resident of Helsinki, remarked on the calm demeanor of Finns, saying, “We have the time to think about things and live our lives peacefully and easily.”
Kirsten Grieshaber contributed reporting from Berlin.
