Finland has been crowned the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2025, released Thursday by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford. The annual study, conducted with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranks nations based on self-reported life satisfaction, with Nordic countries once again dominating the top spots: Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden follow Finland at second, third, and fourth, respectively.
“Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth—it’s about trust, connection, and knowing people have your back,” said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. The report highlights simple yet powerful factors driving happiness: sharing meals, having reliable social support, and believing in others’ kindness. For instance, expecting a lost wallet to be returned strongly correlates with a population’s happiness—Nordic nations excel here, with actual return rates doubling people’s pessimistic predictions globally.
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Meanwhile, the United States has plummeted to its lowest-ever ranking at 24th, down from a peak of 11th in 2012. The report notes a 53% rise in Americans dining alone over the past two decades, signaling growing isolation. The United Kingdom also slipped to 23rd, its lowest score since 2017. Elsewhere, Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th) cracked the top 10, while Israel ranked 8th despite its conflict with Hamas.
At the bottom, Afghanistan remains the unhappiest nation, with women reporting especially grim conditions, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon. Alarmingly, 19% of young adults worldwide in 2023 said they lack social support—a 39% jump since 2006. The rankings, averaged from 2022-2024 data, weigh factors like GDP, life expectancy, freedom, and trust to explain global happiness trends.
Key Points:
- Finland Tops List Again: Finland is named the happiest country for the eighth year running in the World Happiness Report 2025, released March 20, 2025, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
- Happiness Factors: Beyond wealth, happiness is tied to social support, shared meals, and trust—e.g., expecting a lost wallet’s return, with Nordic nations excelling in perceived and actual kindness.
- U.S. Hits Lowest Rank: The United States falls to 24th, its lowest-ever position, down from 11th in 2012, with a 53% rise in solo dining reflecting increased isolation.
- Other Standouts: Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th) enter the top 10; Israel ranks 8th despite conflict; the UK drops to 23rd, its worst since 2017.
- Unhappiest Nations: Afghanistan remains the least happy, especially for women, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
- Youth Crisis: Globally, 19% of young adults in 2023 reported no social support, up 39% since 2006.
- Methodology: Rankings average self-assessed life evaluations from 2022-2024, explained by factors like GDP, life expectancy, freedom, and trust.
