The happiest people, according to global reports, are often found in Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, valuing community, nature, social support, and low corruption. However, individual happiness is also linked to making the best of circumstances, strong family/friend ties, purpose in work, faith, and simplicity, with Finns embodying traits like sisu (perseverance) and enjoying simple things like saunas and forests, while Danes thrive on hygge (coziness) and strong welfare.
Highlights
The 13th annual World Happiness Report, released to mark the UN's International Day of Happiness, ranks the world's happiest countries by asking people to evaluate their lives. Finland again took top spot with an average score of 7.736 out of 10, with Denmark in second.
Age and generation both matter for happiness. As between generations, those born before 1965 (Boomers and their predecessors) have life evaluations about one-quarter of a point higher than those born after 1980 (Millennials and Gen Z).
2021 World Happiness Report
Finland holds the rank of the happiest country in the world for the fourth consecutive year. It is followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Netherlands.
Though they trail Asians in both the health and financial security components, Caucasians are still the happiest racial group, with a score of 72%.
The rankings show Australia trailing behind Israel, Mexico, and the Nordic countries, while Finland retains the title of the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year.
Recent research shows that members of the Baby Boomer generation have worse health than previous generations did at the same ages—diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses are more common.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
A happier life after getting married may not just be in fairy tales. It's in the data, too. Adults who are married report being far happier than those in any other relationship status, according to a Gallup Poll published Friday.
The Lifestyles of the Happiest People I Know
Ranking of the least happy countries worldwide 2024, by score. Afghanistan was ranked the least happy country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report from 2025. The country scored only 1.36 on a scale from 0 to 10.
Happiness is influenced by genetic factors, but personal choices & life circumstances play a significant role. Positive habits, relationships & mindset can enhance happiness beyond genetic predispositions. Focusing on gratitude, resilience & personal growth empowers individuals to increase their overall happiness.
Protestants, Buddhists and Roman Catholic were happier and most satisfied with their lives compared to other religious groups. Orthodox has the lowest SWB.
Happy people are committed to making time for and enjoying friends and family. They have people they count on and trust. They are more likely to get married and less likely to get divorced. They get along with others, and they tend to volunteer and donate more, which is good for society.
90% of our happiness is determined not by our genes or environment, but by our perception of the world.
“Can't lie” “Can't lie” falls under the same umbrella as slang terms like NGL (not gonna lie) and TBH (to be honest). The 🆑 emoji is perfect to use when you're trying to keep things unfiltered and brutally honest.
You're welcome in advance.
Resembles plewds, stylized sweat droplets used in comics and animation to show characters working hard or feeling stressed. May be used to represent various types of liquids, including sexual fluids. May also be used to represent various liquid-based slang expressions (e.g., drip, “exceptional style, swagger").
Some consider millennials to be one of the heaviest generations. In the U.K., researchers found at least seven in 10 people born in the millennial generations will be overweight or obese before they reach middle age. Baby boomers only faced rates of five in 10.
“Often referred to as the 'unluckiest generation,”millennials have had to adapt to rising costs of living and an unpredictable job market during their most formative career years.
It is a known fact that lifespan increases with each generation. For baby boomers, the average life expectancy is 70 years, for Gen X its 85, and newer generations like Gen Z and Alpha will likely exceed the 100-year mark.
AUSTRALIA'S HAPPIEST CITY IS ADELAIDE: Adelaide has topped the list of happiest Australian cities according to the Happy City Index and 82 specific criteria. >>
However, the "First World" is generally thought of as the capitalist, industrial, wealthy, and developed countries. This definition includes the countries of North America and Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
Quality of Life: Australia ranks #10 vs UK #17 in World Happiness Report 2025, with 300+ days of sunshine and superior work-life balance.