Finland Named World’s Happiest Country for Seventh Year in a Row
In the recently released 2024 World Happiness Report, Finland has once again been named the world’s happiest country, making it the seventh consecutive year that the Nordic nation has claimed the top spot. Compiled by Gallup, the United Nations, and the University of Oxford, the report used data from over 140 countries to determine happiness levels based on various factors.
European countries dominated the rankings, with Nordic countries like Denmark, Iceland, and Norway also securing spots in the top 10. The report measures happiness based on income, health, social support, freedom, generosity, and freedom from corruption. However, it also highlighted a concerning trend of decreasing happiness among young people, particularly in Western Europe.
Interestingly, Lithuania was ranked as the happiest country for young people under 30, while Denmark emerged as the happiest place for older generations. The United States, previously a dominant force in happiness rankings, fell out of the top 20 for the first time, driven by a drop in well-being among Americans under 30.
Newcomers to the top 20 rankings included countries like Costa Rica and Kuwait, while the report noted a narrowing of happiness levels between Western and Eastern Europe. Notably, none of the world’s largest countries made it into the top 20, with only the Netherlands and Australia from the top 10 having populations exceeding 15 million.
The report also pointed out that seismic geopolitical events of 2023 had a significant impact on happiness rankings, with events occurring close to the survey period affecting the data. As the world continues to navigate various global challenges, the pursuit of happiness remains a priority for many nations around the globe.
