Thu Mar 20 07:01:53 UTC 2025: ## Finland Tops World Happiness Report for Eighth Consecutive Year
**Washington, March 20, 2025** – Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eighth year running, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, released Thursday by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre. The report, compiled in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranks countries based on self-reported life evaluations.
Other Nordic countries dominated the top spots, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden maintaining their positions in second, third, and fourth place respectively. The study suggests that happiness is not solely determined by wealth, but also by factors such as social trust, strong social connections, and a sense of community support. Specifically, sharing meals, reliable social support, and household size (four to five people in Mexico and Europe, for example) were identified as key contributors to happiness. The report also highlighted a strong correlation between believing in the kindness of others and overall happiness, citing higher rates of returned lost wallets in happier countries. Interestingly, actual wallet return rates are significantly higher than people expect globally.
Despite the ongoing war with Hamas, Israel ranked eighth, while Costa Rica and Mexico achieved top-ten positions for the first time, at sixth and tenth respectively. However, the report reveals a decline in happiness in some regions. The United States recorded its lowest-ever ranking at 24th, attributed partly to a 53% increase in people dining alone over the past two decades. The United Kingdom also experienced its lowest average life evaluation since 2017, ranking 23rd. Afghanistan remained the unhappiest country, with Afghan women reporting particularly difficult living conditions.
A significant concern highlighted by the report is the rising number of young adults lacking social support. A 39% increase since 2006, with 19% of young adults globally reporting no one to rely on for support in 2023. The report’s findings underscore the complex interplay between economic factors, social connections, and overall well-being in determining national happiness levels.
First Piper 