Finland has once again proven that happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s a way of life. According to the latest World Happiness Report, the Nordic nation has been crowned the happiest country on Earth for the eighth consecutive year, reinforcing its reputation for strong social systems, trust, and overall quality of life.
The annual report evaluates well-being across more than 140 countries and territories, drawing on survey responses collected over a three-year period. Researchers examined how people around the world perceive their own lives, offering a global snapshot of happiness based on real human experiences rather than economic indicators alone.
How Happiness Is Measured
The rankings are compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Gallup and other partners. More than 100,000 participants answered a single, telling question from the Gallup World Poll. They were asked to imagine their life as a ladder, with zero representing the worst possible life and 10 the best, and then choose where they felt they stood.
This simple but powerful question helps researchers understand how people truly feel about their lives—emotionally, socially, and psychologically.
The Power of Social Connection
One of the most striking findings in the 2025 report is the strong link between happiness and social habits, particularly sharing meals with others. Analysts noted that people who regularly eat with family or friends tend to report higher levels of well-being.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and an editor of the report, emphasized the importance of rebuilding social bonds. He pointed out that in an age marked by isolation and political division, coming together—literally around the table—can significantly improve both individual and collective happiness.
Finland Leads Yet Again
For the 2025 edition, data from 2022 to 2024 was combined to determine the final rankings. Finland emerged at No. 1 with an impressive average life-evaluation score of around 7.7 out of 10. Beyond personal satisfaction, the country also scored highly in areas such as social support, freedom, equality, and low levels of perceived corruption.
Finland wasn’t alone at the top. Its Nordic neighbors once again dominated the list, underscoring the region’s consistent focus on social welfare and trust in institutions.
The 10 Happiest Countries in the World
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Finland
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Denmark
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Iceland
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Sweden
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Netherlands
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Costa Rica
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Norway
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Israel
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Luxembourg
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Mexico
Costa Rica and Mexico made notable debuts in the top 10 this year, highlighting that happiness isn’t limited to one region or culture.
Where the U.S. Stands
Missing from the top tier is the United States, which fell to No. 24—its lowest position since the report began 13 years ago. This places it just behind the United Kingdom and Germany. Researchers suggest that growing social isolation may be a contributing factor, noting that the number of Americans who dine alone has jumped by more than 50% over the past two decades. The U.S.’s strongest showing came in 2012, when it ranked No. 11.
A Broader Global Picture
The report’s findings align in some areas with other global assessments, such as the U.S. News Best Countries rankings, which also place Nordic nations near the top for quality of life. Denmark led that list, with Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands close behind, while the U.S. ranked in the low 20s.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan recorded the lowest happiness scores by a wide margin, reflecting years of instability under Taliban rule. Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe also ranked near the bottom, largely due to ongoing violence and hardship.
Some conflict-affected countries showed mixed results. Israel placed No. 8 overall despite prolonged conflict, while Palestine ranked much lower at No. 108. Ukraine, amid years of war following Russia’s invasion, came in at No. 111, whereas Russia ranked significantly higher at No. 66.
Trust Still Matters
Beyond shared meals, trust emerged as another key indicator of happiness. Researchers found that people who believe a lost wallet would be returned by a stranger tend to live in happier societies. Real-world “wallet drop” experiments backed this up, revealing that people are often more honest than we expect.
As economist John F. Helliwell, a founding editor of the report, noted, these findings suggest that while people may underestimate others’ kindness, trust and social cooperation remain powerful foundations for a happier world.
