These are the world’s happiest countries in 2025

CNN
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The world’s happiest nation has managed to maintain its No. 1 rating for eight years operating. The image in america isn’t so rosy.

Whereas Finland as soon as once more tops the World Happiness Report’s rankings, america — at No. 24 — earned its lowest rating but within the 2025 report. The 13^th version of the annual report marks the United Nations Worldwide Day of Happiness on March 20.

In america and components of Europe, declining happiness and social belief have contributed considerably to the rise of political polarization and votes in opposition to “the system,” the report finds.

However in brighter information, international analysis exhibits that persons are a lot kinder than we count on.

“People’s fellow citizens are better than they think they are, and to realize that will make you happier, of course, but it’ll also change the way you think about your neighbors,” mentioned John Helliwell, a founding editor of the World Happiness Report.

“And so you’re more inclined to think of a stranger in the street as simply a friend you haven’t met and not somebody who poses a threat to you,” mentioned Helliwell, who’s an economics professor emeritus on the College of British Columbia.

There’s “room for improvement,” Helliwell mentioned, in believing that we’re all half of a bigger group that appears out for one another. It’s an essential supply of happiness that we haven’t correctly tapped, he mentioned.

The report attracts on Gallup World Ballot information from folks in additional than 140 nations. International locations are ranked on happiness primarily based on their common life evaluations over the three previous years, on this case 2022 to 2024. The report is a partnership of Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Analysis Centre, the UN Sustainable Improvement Options Community and an editorial board.

The survey asks every participant to attain their life as an entire and rankings are primarily based on these life evaluations. The report then seems to be at six key variables to assist clarify life evaluations: GDP per capita, social assist, wholesome life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.

Relating to happiness, the Nordic nations are clearly doing quite a lot of issues proper. For the eighth yr in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest nation, with its neighbors clustered shut behind.

“Nordic countries like Finland continue to benefit from universally available and high-quality health, education and social support systems. Inequality of wellbeing is also low,” mentioned Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup.

Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden – the highest 4 – stay in the identical order as 2024. And Norway is once more No. 7.

Whereas social assist techniques that look out for residents’ welfare are essential to Finland’s No. 1 rating, the folks play a task too, in line with Helliwell.

“Having a welfare state doesn’t find lost wallets and return them to the owners,” mentioned Helliwell, a longtime lost-wallet researcher, referring to information displaying that Nordic nations rank among the many prime locations for the anticipated and precise return of misplaced wallets. “Those are individuals caring about the people with whom they live.”

Different elements probably contribute to Finland’s robust efficiency as effectively. Helliwell mentioned some Finnish consultants level to the unity and belief that got here out of the Winter Conflict in 1939-40, also called the Russo-Finnish Conflict.

“They didn’t win that war, but what they did is they came together and realized even against overwhelming power they could do remarkably well … Sometimes the challenge posed externally can bring you together.”

A much less materialistic mindset may work in Finland’s favor, Helliwell mentioned.

“And these days, to focus on the personal rather than the material is of ever-increasing importance.”

Two Latin American nations — Costa Rica at No. 6 and Mexico at No. 10 — each enter the highest 10 for the primary time within the 2025 report.

Each nations’ residents have “strong social networks and strong perceptions about the direction of their economy and confidence in leaders and institutions,” Ron-Levey mentioned.

The Netherlands (No. 5), Israel (No. 8) and Luxembourg (No. 9) fill out the highest 10.

After dropping out of the highest 20 for the primary time final yr, the US ranks No. 24 within the newest World Happiness Report.

“The decline in the U.S. in 2024 was at least partly attributable to Americans younger than age 30 feeling worse about their lives,” mentioned Ron-Levey. “Today’s young people report feeling less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices and less optimistic about their living standards.”

Final yr’s report paid particular consideration to happiness amongst completely different age teams, highlighting declines among the many younger in quite a few nations.

The US isn’t the one English-speaking nation with happiness challenges. At No. 23, the UK reported its lowest common life analysis since 2017. Canada, which has seen happiness declines over the past decade, remained within the prime 20 at No. 18.

Whereas the variables that assist clarify life evaluations are advanced, there may be one “balm” that’s inside everybody’s attain, Helliwell mentioned.

“Look seriously at the people with whom you are working, with whom you are living, who are on your streets, and put on a rosier set of glasses when you’re dealing with them. And that’ll change your behavior in traffic. It’ll change your behavior in political discussions. It’ll change everything,” Helliwell mentioned.

Speaking much less and listening extra helps with perspective shifts that may result in extra cooperation.

“Negativity is poisonous to happiness,” he mentioned.

1. Finland

2. Denmark

3. Iceland

4. Sweden

5. Netherlands

6. Costa Rica

7. Norway

8. Israel

9. Luxembourg

10. Mexico

11. Australia

12. New Zealand

13. Switzerland

14. Belgium

15. Eire

16. Lithuania

17. Austria

18. Canada

19. Slovenia

20. Czech Republic

Afghanistan (No. 147) is as soon as once more final on the record. Sierra Leone (No. 146), Lebanon (No. 145), Malawi (No. 144) and Zimbabwe (No. 143) make up the remainder of the underside 5 for happiness.