Finland Retains Top Spot as World’s Happiest Country in World Happiness Report

For the seventh year in a row, Finland has secured its position as the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report.

The report, which ranks countries based on self-assessed life evaluations and responses to the Cantril ladder question, is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.

While the top ten countries on the list remained mostly unchanged, Costa Rica and Kuwait made significant jumps to the 12th and 13th spots, respectively, while the United States and Germany dropped out of the top 20 altogether.

Finland’s score of 7.741 placed it at the top of the list, with factors like a strong sense of community, social support, and clear personal purpose contributing to the overall happiness of the Finnish population.

According to Frank Martela, a Finnish philosopher, and psychology researcher, Finland’s high ranking is attributed to the strong communal bonds, altruistic behaviors, and a sense of purpose among its people.

Finland excels in various aspects including education, work-life balance, environmental quality, social connections, safety, and life satisfaction, as per the World Happiness Report.

In terms of life expectancy, Finland boasts an average of 82 years, with women at 85 years and men at 79 years.

Among the top ten happiest countries are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Australia, with Denmark ranking second on the list with a score of 7.583.

Denmark’s high position is attributed to its focus on equality and social welfare, with the country’s tax system supporting free healthcare, subsidized childcare, tuition-free university education, and pensions for the elderly.

The OECD Better Life Index highlights Denmark’s strengths in job opportunities, education, healthcare, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement, and overall life satisfaction.

Denmark, a founding member of the OECD, continues to prioritize social welfare, contributing to the well-being of its citizens and securing its spot as one of the happiest countries in the world.