Thu Mar 20 03:44:41 UTC 2025: ## US Happiness Plummets to Record Low as Social Isolation Rises, Report Finds

**OXFORD, UK** – The United States has fallen to its lowest-ever ranking in the World Happiness Report, placing 24th out of 147 countries. The 2025 report, released Thursday by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN, attributes the decline to rising social isolation and political polarization.

Finland retained its top spot for another year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. This year’s report marks a significant drop for the US, which peaked at 11th place in 2012. The downward trend is underscored by a concerning increase in Americans eating alone – a 53% rise since 2003, with roughly one in four reporting eating all meals alone daily in 2023.

The report also highlights a rise in “deaths of despair” in the US, contrasting with a global downward trend in these deaths. Researchers suggest this unhappiness contributes to political polarization, with those feeling less trust more likely to support far-right ideologies.

Conversely, Mexico and Costa Rica broke into the top 10, demonstrating the positive impact of strong social bonds and larger household sizes on well-being. The report emphasizes the significant correlation between shared meals, strong family ties, and overall happiness, suggesting these factors are comparable in influence to income and employment.

Gallup CEO Jon Clifton stressed that happiness transcends economic factors, emphasizing the importance of trust and social connection. He stated that investing in social cohesion and strong communities is crucial for stronger economies and societies. The highest-ranking countries consistently demonstrated strong social safety nets and high levels of social cohesion. The report concludes with a call for nations to learn from the examples set by countries with strong social support systems and a focus on community wellbeing.

Read More