Which are the happiest countries in the world?

Finland has ranked highest in the World Happiness Report for the fifth year in a row

Today, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network published its 2022 World Happiness Report, revealing how the citizens of more than 150 countries evaluate their own lives. Using global survey data, this year’s World Happiness Report found that despite presenting countless challenges, the COVID crisis also caused a worldwide surge in benevolence and kindness. 

How do countries rank?

For the fifth year in a row, Finland has ranked highest and taken the title of the world’s happiest country. What is more, the World Happiness Report reveals that the Nordic country scored significantly better than others in the top 10. Retaining its position, Denmark has ranked second this year, while Iceland has risen from fourth to third place. According to the 2022 report, the following 20 countries are the world’s happiest:

1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Netherlands
6. Luxembourg
7. Sweden
8. Norway
9. Israel
10. New Zealand
11. Austria
12. Australia
13. Ireland
14. Germany
15. Canada
16. United States
17. United Kingdom
18. Czechia
19. Belgium
20. France

Discussing the report’s findings, the Belgian economist Jan-Emmanuel De Neve explained that societies suffering from conflict and extreme poverty rank at the bottom of the list. Giving an example, he revealed that people in Afghanistan have evaluated their own lives as 2.4 out of 10. This, according to him, presents a stark reminder of the damage caused by war. 

10th anniversary

The World Happiness Report was first published a decade ago; as such, the 2022 edition marks its tenth anniversary. In a press release, co-editor of the World Happiness Report Jeffrey Sachs commented:

“A decade ago, governments around the world expressed the desire to put happiness at the heart of the global development agenda, and they adopted a UN General Assembly resolution for that purpose. The World Happiness Report grew out of that worldwide determination to find the path to greater global wellbeing.”

Taking this further, Sachs revealed that the main takeaway of the report is that there are three things that are crucial for wellbeing, namely social support, generosity to one another, and honesty in government. As such, Sachs shares:

“Politics should be directed as the great sages long ago insisted: to the well-being of the people, not the power of the rulers.”

Read the 2022 World Happiness Report here.