Some happy news for residents of Finland: the Nordic country has once again been crowned the happiest in the world. This announcement comes at a less joyous moment for the United States, which, for the first time in 12 years, has dropped out of the top 20 in Gallup’s World Happiness Report, ranking No. 23 this year.
Gallup pinpointed a notable dip in happiness among Americans under 30 as a significant factor behind the country’s slide down the rankings. In contrast, Americans aged 60 and older seem to be faring better, with the U.S. still making it into the top 10 for this age group.
The survey discovered a sharp decline in happiness levels among U.S. youths aged 15-24 since the mid-2000s, in contrast to a more gradual decrease among their counterparts in Western Europe. Meanwhile, Nordic countries maintained their lead in happiness rankings, with Finland at the top, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Australia.
Finland’s consistent top billing as the happiest country marks its seventh consecutive year at the peak of global well-being, a testament to the nation’s enduring quality of life and societal support systems.
The release of this year’s World Happiness Report aligns with the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness, offering a moment for reflection on the state of global well-being amid ongoing challenges.
Gallup’s three-year survey of over 100,000 people across 143 countries asked participants to rate their lives on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best possible life.