Finland is the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row (2024)

For the seventh year in a row, Finland has landed the top spot on the World Happiness Report's annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world.

Countries are ranked according to self-assessed life evaluations and answers to the Cantril ladder question which asks respondents to think of a ladder with the best possible life for them being a 10 and the worst being a zero and then rate their current lives on that scale.

The Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, which publishes the report, says that in addition to using the Cantril ladder question, the report also considers the following six variables in the more than 130 countries ranked in the report:

  1. GDP per capita
  2. Social Support
  3. Healthy life expectancy
  4. Freedom
  5. Generosity
  6. Freedom of corruption

While this year the top ten countries on the list remain mostly unchanged, the top 20 saw a bit more action. Costa Rica and Kuwait jumped to 12th and 13th place, respectively while the United States and Germany fell off the top 20 completely. The U.S. dropped from No. 15 to No. 23 this year.

Of the top ten happiest countries, only the Netherlands and Australia have populations over 15 million, and of the top 20, only Canada and the U.K. have populations over 30 million.

No. 1 happiest country in the world: Finland

Finland took the No. 1 spot on the list with a score of 7.741. According to Frank Martela, a Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher, Finnish people are happy because they have a strong sense of community and relatedness, do good deeds for other people, and find a clear purpose for themselves.

"It would be more accurate to say that Finland is the country that has the least unhappy people in the world," Martela tells CNBC Make It.

Finland outperforms the average country in education, work-life balance, environment quality, social connections, safety and life satisfaction, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) Better Life Index.

Life expectancy at birth in Finland is around 82 years, 85 for women and 79 for men.

The Finnish people's strong sense of community is further proven by the OECD Better Life Index, which states that 96% of people believe they know someone they can rely on in their time of need.

Top 10 happiest countries in the world

  1. Finland
  2. Denmark
  3. Iceland
  4. Sweden
  5. Israel
  6. Netherlands
  7. Norway
  8. Luxembourg
  9. Switzerland
  10. Australia

Denmark ranked as the No. 2 happiest country in the world, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report.

Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images

Denmark ranked No. 2 on the list with a score of 7.583.

The country's high ranking is due in part to its level of equality and sense of responsibility for social welfare, according tothe country's official website. These are two things that are closely linked to happiness, according to the World Happiness Report.

While some might point out that people in Denmark pay some of the world's highest taxes — up to half of their income — it is balanced out by the fact that most healthcare in the country is free, childcare is subsidized, university students pay no tuition and receive grants to help cover expenses while studying. The elderly receive pensions and are provided with care helpers.

According to the OECD Better Life Index, the Nordic country outperforms the average in jobs, education, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement and life satisfaction. Denmark is a founding member of the OECD and NATO.

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Finland is the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row (1)

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Why Finland and Denmark are the happiest countries in the world

Finland is the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row (2024)

FAQs

Finland is the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row? ›

In 2024, Finland occupies the top spot on the report's list of the happiest countries in the world for the seventh time in a row. The other Nordic countries usually join Finland in the top ten – this year, they are all in the top seven: Denmark is second, Iceland third, Sweden fourth and Norway seventh.

What is the happiest country 7 years in a row? ›

Finland stands out as a place where people can find happiness and stability in a world that often seems full of problems and changes. According to the World Happiness Report, this Nordic country has become the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row.

Is it true that Finland is the happiest country in the world? ›

For seven consecutive years, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, followed closely by its Nordic neighbours Denmark and Iceland.

Is Finland the happiest country in the world 2024? ›

Finland named the world's happiest country (again) in 2024 but young people in Europe are struggling. The 2024 World Happiness Report also showed a disturbing downward trend in life evaluations by young people and adolescents, particularly in Western Europe.

What is the unhappiest country in the world 2024? ›

For the seventh year in a row, Finland is the “happiest” country, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel. There are two new entrants in the top 20 – Costa Rica (12) and Kuwait (13). The world's “unhappiest” nation is Afghanistan.

What country is 8 years behind the rest of the world? ›

Ethiopia is located in East Africa and is Africa's second-largest country in terms of population. It uses a unique calendar system different from the widely used Gregorian calendar. The Ethiopian Calendar, also called “Ge'ez,” is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar.

What is Finland's happy secret? ›

It is common for Finns to go to a sauna to purify the body and soul. A unique national culture of Finland is naked togetherness either at the public or private sauna.

Do they speak English in Finland? ›

Finland has its own official languages, which the Finnish government recognizes. However, even though English is not their official language, you'll find many Finns speak English well. English has become widely spoken, especially in urban areas and among the younger generation.

Does Finland have free healthcare? ›

In Finland, the public healthcare system offers services to everyone residing in the country, also called universal healthcare. Healthcare in Finland is publicly funded by taxes and social security payments.

Is Finland expensive to live in? ›

The cost of living in Finland is, all in all, cheaper than in many countries. Let's crunch some numbers! Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is 28% cheaper to live in than London. Living in Finland is 9,8% cheaper than living in the United States.

What is the religion in Finland? ›

According to Finnish government statistics from December 2021 that count only registered members of registered congregations, 66.6 percent of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELC) and 1.1 percent to the Finnish Orthodox Church, while 0.4 percent (approximately 21,000) have official ...

Is Finland a good place to live? ›

From the vibrant city of Helsinki to the arctic Lapland, Finland offers expats a high standard of living, excellent work-life balance, and a strong sense of community. With careful planning and the right resources, relocating to Finland can be a rewarding experience.

What is the #1 country in the world? ›

For the second year in a row, Switzerland is the best country in the world, according to the U.S News and World report. It was also the No. 1 country from 2017 to 2020 until Canada's win in 2021.

What is the happiest state in the USA? ›

WalletHub released a report ranking the happiest states in the US. States were ranked across 30 metrics including unemployment rates, mental health, and commute times. Utah took the top spot as the happiest state, followed by Hawaii and Maryland.

Is the US not a happy country? ›

The United States has fallen eight spots and is no longer in the top 20 happiest countries in the world, falling behind countries like Canada, Israel, Kuwait, Lithuania and the United Arab Emirates, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report released by Gallup and its partners.

What country is living 7 years behind? ›

Ethiopia, the country that follows a 13-month calendar, and is 7 years behind the rest of the world!

What is the top 10 happiest country? ›

Top 10 happiest countries in the world
  • Finland.
  • Denmark.
  • Iceland.
  • Sweden.
  • Israel.
  • Netherlands.
  • Norway.
  • Luxembourg.
Mar 20, 2024

Why is Denmark so happy? ›

Is it the relative lack of crime and corruption, or just plain Danish hygge? According to the World Happiness Report, happiness is closely linked to social equality and community spirit - and Denmark does well on both. Denmark has a high level of equality and a strong sense of common responsibility for social welfare.

What is the 2nd most happiest country? ›

Denmark

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