Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2025, published Thursday.
Other Nordic countries are also again at the top of the happiness ranking in the annual report published by Oxford University Wellbeing Research Center. In addition to Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden remain among the first four and in the same order.
Country classifications were based on the answers that people give when requested to classify their own lives. The study was done in partnership with the Gallup Analysis Company and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
“Happiness is not just about wealth or growth – it’s about confidence, connection and knowing that people are by your side,” said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. “If we want stronger communities and economies, we need to invest in what really matters: each other.”
Share meals and have someone to count on
Researchers say that in addition to health and wealth, some factors that influence happiness seem misleadingly simple: sharing meals with others, having someone to count on social support and family size. In Mexico and Europe, for example, a family with four to five people predicts the highest levels of happiness, the study said.
Believing in the kindness of others is also much more linked to happiness than previously thought, according to the latest findings.
As an example, the report suggests that people who believe other people are willing to return their lost wallets are a strong indicator of a population’s overall happiness.
The study found that the Nordic countries are among the first places in terms of expected and real return of lost wallets.
Overall, the researchers said that the global evidence about the perceived and real return of lost wallets show that people are very pessimistic about the kindness of their communities compared to reality – the real rates of portfolio return are about twice as people expect.
The US falls to its lowest position ever in the happiness ranking
While European countries dominate the top 20 in the ranking, there were some exceptions. Despite the war with Hamas, Israel was 8th. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, being 6th and 10th, respectively.
When it comes to decreased happiness – or increased unhappiness – the United States fell to its lowest position of all time, 24, reaching the previous peak of 11th in 2012. The report states that the number of people who have dinner alone has increased 53% over the past two decades.
The United Kingdom, in position 23, has been reporting its lower average life assessment since the 2017 report.
Afghanistan is again classified as the most unhappy country in the world, with Afghan women saying that their lives are especially difficult.
Sierra Leone, in West Africa, is the second most unfortunate country, followed by Lebanon, who occupies the third position from the last position.
Almost a fifth of young adults around the world has no social support
In worrying development, the study said that 19% of young adults worldwide reported in 2023 that they had no one with whom they could count on social support. This is a 39% increase compared to 2006.
All countries are classified according to their self -assessments of life, an average of 2022 to 2024.
Experts in economics, psychology, sociology and other fields seek to explain the variations between countries and over time using factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count, a sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
Originally published by the team on 19/03/2025
Por Kirsten Grieshaber
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/03/20/eua-caem-para-sua-classificacao-mais-baixa-no-ultimo-relatorio-mundial-de-felicidade/
