Finland retains title as world's happiest country, US drops to record low
International Desk
The World Happiness Report 2025 has once again named Finland the happiest country in the world, marking the eighth consecutive year at the top.
Other Nordic countries—Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden—remain in the top four spots, continuing their dominance in the happiness rankings, which are based on people’s self-assessed life evaluations.
The report, compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, emphasizes that happiness is not solely based on wealth, but also on trust, connection, and social support. Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, highlights the importance of investing in relationships to build stronger communities and economies.
Researchers found that factors like sharing meals, having someone to rely on, and household size significantly contribute to happiness. For example, in Mexico and parts of Europe, larger households of four to five people are linked to greater happiness levels. Additionally, the study reveals that believing in others’ kindness is a strong predictor of overall happiness, with Nordic countries ranking highly for the return of lost wallets.
On the other hand, the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24th, down from a peak of 11th in 2012. The report notes that one contributing factor is a 53% increase in people dining alone over the past 20 years.
While European nations dominate the top rankings, Israel, despite the ongoing conflict with Hamas, ranks 8th, and Costa Rica and Mexico both make their debut in the top 10. Afghanistan remains the unhappiest country, with Afghan women reporting particularly difficult lives.
In a concerning trend, the study reveals that 19% of young adults globally have no social support, marking a 39% rise since 2006.
The rankings, which assess self-reported life evaluations from 2022 to 2024, consider various factors such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
