Helsinki, Finland – For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been crowned the happiest country in the world, as per the World Happiness Report 2025 released on Thursday. This annual report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, places other Nordic nations like Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden in the top four spots, following Finland.
The rankings in the report were based on individuals’ self-assessments of their own lives, reflecting factors such as trust, connection, and overall well-being. The study, conducted in collaboration with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, emphasized the importance of investment in community and interpersonal relationships for the betterment of societies and economies.
Beyond traditional metrics like health and wealth, the report highlights the impact of seemingly simple factors on happiness levels. Sharing meals, having reliable social support, and household size were identified as key influences on overall happiness. Interestingly, believing in the kindness of others emerged as a stronger predictor of happiness than previously believed.
Researchers noted that expectations of return on lost wallets varied widely from actual instances of wallet return. Nordic countries, in particular, demonstrated high rates of returning lost wallets, indicating a societal norm of trust and kindness. However, global perceptions tend to underestimate the goodwill present in communities, with actual rates of wallet return being significantly higher than expected.
While European countries predominantly feature in the report’s top 20 rankings, exceptions like Israel, Costa Rica, and Mexico highlighted significant improvements in happiness levels. In contrast, the United States experienced a decline in happiness, dropping to its lowest-ever position at 24. Factors such as an increase in solo dining and declining social support contribute to the US’s diminished happiness rank.
On the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan emerged as the unhappiest country for yet another year, with Afghan women facing significant challenges. Sierra Leone and Lebanon followed closely as the second and third unhappiest countries, respectively. Notably, a concerning trend highlighted in the report is the rise in young adults globally reporting a lack of social support, indicating potential challenges in interpersonal relationships in modern society.
Overall, the rankings in the World Happiness Report underscore the significance of social connections, trust, and community support in determining individual and societal well-being. This comprehensive study, drawing on diverse fields like economics, psychology, and sociology, provides valuable insights into the factors influencing happiness across different countries and over time.