Finland Retains Title as World’s Happiest Country Again in 2025
Finland retains its title as the happiest country for the eighth year according to the World Happiness Report 2025. India improves to 118th but ranks lower than conflict-affected nations. Key factors influencing happiness include social support and communal kindness, with increasing loneliness reported among young adults globally. The United States and the UK see notable declines in happiness rankings.
Finland has once again been recognized as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 published on March 19. While India has shown some improvement in its happiness ranking—moving from 126th in 2024 to 118th in 2025—it still ranks lower than several conflict-affected nations, such as Ukraine, Mozambique, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Gambia, and Venezuela.
In the latest rankings, other Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, have also maintained their positions among the top four happiest nations. These rankings are based on self-reported life evaluations from respondents, facilitated through a collaboration between Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Jon Clifton, the CEO of Gallup, emphasized that happiness transcends mere wealth or economic growth. He stated, “Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth — it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other.”
Beyond mere material conditions, researchers highlighted simple factors that contribute to happiness, such as sharing meals and having reliable social support. For instance, in both Mexico and Europe, households comprising four to five members were associated with higher happiness levels. Belief in the kindness of others also positively influences happiness, with significant evidence suggesting that people underestimate the goodwill prevalent in their communities.
The report revealed that actual rates of wallet returns are approximately double the expected rates among individuals, indicating an overestimation of community pessimism. Meanwhile, the United States has seen a decrease in happiness, ranking at 24th, its lowest position ever, while the UK fell to 23rd, reporting low life evaluations. Notably, despite its ongoing conflict, Israel secured the 8th position in the ranking.
Globally, Afghanistan remains the unhappiest country, particularly affecting women, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon. A troubling finding from the report indicated that nearly 19% of young adults lack social support, marking a 39% increase since 2006. The rankings consider life evaluations from 2022 to 2024, using various factors such as GDP, life expectancy, and social support to explain country variations in happiness.
The World Happiness Report 2025 underscores Finland’s continued position as the happiest nation, while India shows modest improvement yet ranks below several conflict-stricken countries. Key factors influencing happiness include social connections and community kindness, with alarming statistics revealing a growing lack of social support among young adults worldwide. This comprehensive report calls into question societal well-being in various countries, particularly the United States and the UK, which have faced significant declines in happiness.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
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