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For the eighth year in a row, Finland has been named the world's happiest country, reaffirming its dominance in the annual World Happiness Report. Released on the United Nations' International Day of Happiness, the report evaluates the well-being of residents across more than 140 nations. It considers key factors such as social support, healthcare, personal freedom, generosity, perceived corruption, and GDP to determine overall happiness rankings. According to Fortune, Finland secured the top spot with an impressive average score of 7.74 on a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents the best possible quality of life.
"They're wealthy, they're healthy, have social connections, social support, [and] a connection with nature. They're not happy, joyful, dancing in the streets type people, but they're very content with their lives,"
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a professor of economics at the University of Oxford, director of the Wellbeing Research Center, and editor of The World Happiness Report, shared insights with Fortune on the findings. Finland is trailed closely by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, all of which have consistently ranked among the happiest nations. Their strong social welfare systems, high quality of life, and emphasis on work-life balance contribute significantly to their top rankings. Notably, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, securing the 6th and 10th positions, respectively. Meanwhile, the United States experienced a significant drop, falling to its lowest-ever ranking at 24th place, while the United Kingdom ranked 23rd.
Top 10 happiest countries in the world
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
India has improved its happiness ranking from 126 in 2024 to 118 in 2025 but still trails behind some conflict-affected nations. The country scored well in social support due to its strong community culture but ranked low in freedom of choice. Among its neighbors, Nepal ranked highest at 92, followed by Pakistan (109) and China (68), while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh placed lower. Afghanistan remains the world's unhappiest country, with Sierra Leone and Lebanon following, mainly due to conflict, poverty, and social instability.