Finland Retains Title as World’s Happiest Country in 2025
Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world for 2025. India has improved its happiness ranking but is still behind conflict-affected nations. The report emphasizes the importance of social connections and trust for happiness, while the United States and United Kingdom face declining rankings. Many young adults report lacking social support, highlighting a global concern.
Finland has been recognized as the happiest country globally for the eighth consecutive year, as reported in the World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 19. Although India’s happiness ranking has improved slightly from 126th in 2024 to 118th this year, it still ranks lower than several conflict-affected nations, including Ukraine, Mozambique, and Iraq.
The rankings feature other Nordic nations at the pinnacle of happiness. Following Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden occupy the next three positions respectively. The rankings derive from responses to life satisfaction surveys conducted in collaboration with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, stated, “Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth — it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back.” He emphasized the need to invest in community and relationships to bolster stronger societies.
The study highlights that social connections, such as sharing meals and having reliable support, significantly impact happiness. Interestingly, household sizes of four to five people are associated with heightened happiness levels, particularly in Mexico and Europe. Furthermore, trust in others’ kindness correlates strongly with overall happiness.
Notably, findings reveal that perceptions of community kindness may be overly pessimistic, as actual rates of returning lost wallets are twice the expected rates in Nordic nations, indicating a general underestimation of community generosity.
In contrast, the United States has witnessed a decline in its happiness ranking, now sitting at 24th place, its lowest ever ranking. The report links this drop to a significant increase in solitary dining experiences over the past two decades. The United Kingdom, ranked 23rd, also reports its lowest life evaluation since 2017.
Afghanistan retains its position as the unhappiest country, with particular hardships reported among Afghan women. Following Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Lebanon rank as the second and third unhappiest countries.
A startling statistic reveals that 19% of young adults globally report having no social support, a 39% rise since 2006. Countries are evaluated based on self-assessed life satisfaction from 2022 to 2024, with experts analyzing factors such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, and perceptions of freedom, generosity, and corruption to explain the variations in happiness rankings.
In summary, the World Happiness Report 2025 underscores Finland’s sustained happiness leadership while revealing concerning trends in social support worldwide. The findings indicate potential factors affecting happiness, such as communal relationships and trust. As the United States and United Kingdom experience declines, the report calls attention to the essential investments needed in community-building and social support systems to enhance overall well-being globally.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
