Finland has secured its position as the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, continuing the Nordic dominance in global happiness rankings.
By Aniket Chakraborty
Mar 21, 2025
The United States dropped to its lowest position ever at 24th place, with young Americans reporting less social support and freedom to make life choices.
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Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 happiest countries for the first time, credited to strong social networks and confidence in their institutions.
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The annual World Happiness Report ranks countries based on life evaluations across three years (2022-2024), considering factors like GDP, social support, and freedom.
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Research suggests people are much kinder than we expect, and recognizing this potential in strangers could significantly boost collective happiness.
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Professor John Helliwell notes that negativity is "poisonous to happiness" and recommends listening more to foster cooperation and positive attitudes.
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Nordic countries benefit from universal high-quality health, education, and social support systems, with notably low inequality in wellbeing.
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The United Kingdom reported its lowest average life evaluation since 2017, ranking 23rd, while Canada remained in the top 20 at 18th place.
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Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the happiness rankings at 147th place, with Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe completing the bottom five.
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Declining happiness and social trust have contributed significantly to rising political polarization in the United States and parts of Europe.