Finland leads the world happiness report for the 8th consecutive year. The ranking, released annually by the UN, was published on Wednesday (19) and evaluates GDP, social support, expectation of healthy life, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
Already Brazil rose eight positions in the ranking and now occupying the 36th place, being the second in South America, behind only Uruguay (29th).
The position of Brazilians, who in 2024 ranked 44th, marks a climb over Chile, which fell from 38th to 45th. Argentina ranks 42nd position.
Already the United States (24th) have obtained their lower classification since the report was created in 2012.
In the United States and parts of Europe, the decline of happiness and social trust contributed significantly to the increase in political polarization and votes against “the system”, the report concludes.
The report is based on data from Gallup World Poll in partnership with Oxford Wellbeing Research Center, the UN and editorial board sustainable development solutions network.
The ranking features the participation of people in more than 140 countries, classified based on their average living assessments in the previous three years, in this case from 2022 to 2024.
See the top 20 of the “happiest countries”
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Austria
- Canada
- Slovenia
- Czech Republic
Top of the list
When it comes to happiness, Nordic countries are clearly doing many right things. For the eighth consecutive year, Finland is the happiest country in the world, with its neighbors grouped close behind.
“Nordic countries such as Finland continue to benefit from universally available and high quality health systems, education and social support. The inequality of well-being is also low”
Ilana Ron-Levey, Gallup Administrative Director
Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden – the first four – remain in the same order as 2024. Norway follows in 7th place.
United States
After leaving the top 20 for the first in 2024, the US is in 24th place.
“The decline in the US in 2024 was at least partially attributed to Americans under 30 feeling worse about their lives,” Ron-Levey said.
“Today’s young people report feeling less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices and less optimistic about their life patterns,” he added.
Last year’s report special attention to happiness between different age groups, highlighting declines among young people in various countries.
The US is not the only English -speaking country with challenges of happiness. In 23rd place, the United Kingdom has reported its lower average life assessment since 2017. Canada, which has seen happiness fall in the last decade, remained in the top 20, in 18th place.
This content was originally published in Finland leads UN happiness ranking; Brazil rises eight positions on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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