Finland has claimed the top position for the eighth consecutive year in the World Happiness Report‘s list of happiest countries. Following Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden also secured spots in the top 10.
Ilana Ron Levey, managing director at Gallup, explains that the Nordic countries’ presence at the top is not surprising due to the stability provided by their welfare systems. “Finland is an extraordinary outlier, and the world is focusing on its unique attributes,” she says. Factors contributing to Finnish happiness include a strong sense of community, future optimism, trust in institutions, and robust relationships with friends and family.
Ron Levey points out that Finland experiences lower inequality in well-being compared to nations like the United States, with a more widespread consensus on life satisfaction. The World Happiness Report ranks nations based on self-reported life evaluations over the years 2022-2024 as well as responses to the Cantril ladder, a question in the Gallup World Poll assessing life quality from 0 to 10.
The Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, responsible for the report’s publication, includes six additional variables in its analysis of over 130 countries:
- GDP per capita
- Social Support
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom
- Generosity
- Freedom from corruption
Ron Levey emphasizes the value of altruistic behaviors, noting, “Good deeds not only enhance the happiness of those receiving kindness but also uplift the givers.”
The United States did not make it to the top 10 list, dropping from 23rd place last year to 24th this year. Ron Levey attributes this decline to younger individuals, particularly those under 30, feeling increasingly dissatisfied with their lives due to perceived reduced support from family and friends, and lower optimism about their future.
The report highlights that solitary dining is rising among Americans, with approximately one in four adults reporting they ate all their meals alone the previous day in 2023, reflecting a 53% increase since 2003. “This trend is more evident among younger generations,” the report states.
While the social act of sharing meals may appear trivial, research shows that frequent communal dining correlates with higher happiness levels. “Happiness fundamentally connects to trust, social networks, and relationships rather than just economic indicators,” she explains. “The happiest nations exhibit strong trust, positive outlooks, acts of generosity, and basic faith in one another.”
This year’s report saw Costa Rica and Mexico breaking into the top 10 for the first time, showcasing that happiness does not solely depend on wealth. “A high life evaluation can exist when essential economic needs are met,” asserts Ron Levey, emphasizing that mere wealth does not guarantee contentment or satisfaction with life.
Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
Denmark, securing the second position, has consistently ranked in the World Happiness Report’s top 10 for over a decade. Similar to its Nordic counterparts, Denmark’s happiness stems from a comprehensive social safety net and strong community ties.
Ron Levey remarks that Danish citizens tend to have a positive outlook toward life and a high level of trust in others, despite facing some of the highest tax rates globally, which fund free healthcare, subsidized childcare, and educational grants for students.
