The United States has fallen to its lowest happiness ranking ever, while Germany has surged to a new high in the annual World Happiness Report. Finland has topped the report for the eighth consecutive year.
The United States has fallen to its lowest happiness ranking ever, according to the annual World Happiness Report released Thursday to mark the International Day of Happiness. The country’s 24th place is its lowest ranking since the report was first published in 2012.
The United States ranks 19th in the World Happiness Report, which is a annual survey conducted by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative of the United Nations.
The report considers factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
In 2020, 'Finland topped the list for the fourth consecutive year,' while the US scored lower than many European countries due to high levels of income inequality and limited social support.
For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has topped the World Happiness Report, leading the rankings alongside its Nordic neighbors. Finns asked to evaluate their lives gave an average score of 7.736 (out of 10), with the Nordic countries dominating the top 10. Denmark came in second place, Iceland third, and Sweden fourth.
Finland has consistently ranked high in the United Nations' World Happiness Report.
In 2020, it secured the second spot, surpassed only by Denmark.
Finland's happiness ranking can be attributed to its strong social safety net, excellent education system, and high standard of living.
The country also boasts a unique concept called 'Karjala-day,' where employees are given an extra day off in March to enjoy nature and relax.
Additionally, Finn's prioritize work-life balance, with many taking extended breaks throughout the year.
The decline in well-being in the United States is attributed to several factors, including the growing number of people eating alone. The report noted that in 2023, about one in four Americans reported eating all their meals alone the previous day, a increase of 53% over the past two decades. ‘is strongly linked with well-being,’ according to researchers.
The World Happiness Report also highlighted an increase in so-called ‘deaths of despair‘ (from suicide or substance abuse) in the United States, despite declining rates in most countries. The report surveyed people worldwide in 2022-2024, before US President Donald Trump‘s return to the White House in January.
Meanwhile, Germany has improved from 24th to 22nd place, overtaking the United States. Norway came in seventh and Costa Rica (6th place) and Mexico (10th) are represented in the top ten for the first time.
According to the World Happiness Report, Germany ranked 17th in happiness among 156 countries in 2020.
The report measures happiness based on factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
In Europe, Germany ranks behind Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands.
The country's high standard of living, strong social safety net, and low unemployment rate contribute to its relatively high happiness score.
The happiness researchers identified several key factors that generally make people happier, including social support, income, health, freedom, and perceptions of corruption. The report’s findings provide insights into what makes countries happy and how they can improve their citizens’ well-being.
