The World Happiness Report for 2025 has been released, with Finland maintaining its top position for eight years in a row. While the United States ranked at No. 24, marking its lowest position yet. The report highlights declining happiness and social trust in the US and parts of Europe, contributing to political polarization. However, there is hope as global research shows people are kinder than we expect, which can lead to increased happiness and changed perceptions about others.
The report draws on data from people in over 140 countries, ranking countries based on average life evaluations over the previous years. The Nordic countries continue to dominate the top spots, with Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden leading the list. Countries like Costa Rica and Mexico also enter the top 10 for the first time.
The United States and the United Kingdom both reported low rankings in happiness, with young people in the US feeling particularly worse about their lives. The report emphasizes the importance of social support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption in understanding life evaluations.
John Helliwell, a founding editor of the report, highlights the role of individual care in countries like Finland, emphasizing the importance of unity and trust in achieving happiness. Listening more and talking less, along with adopting a more positive attitude towards others, can lead to increased cooperation and happiness.
The report also highlights the bottom-ranking countries in terms of happiness, with Afghanistan sitting at the last position. The findings provide valuable insights into what factors contribute to happiness at the national level and emphasize the potential for improvement in promoting well-being worldwide.
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