Understanding Happiness Rankings
The annual happiness rankings serve as a comprehensive assessment of countries worldwide, taking into account a range of factors that contribute to the happiness and well-being of their populations. These factors include economic indicators, social support systems, healthcare provisions, environmental sustainability, and perceptions of personal freedom.
Happiest Countries in the World
1. Finland: Topping the list for several consecutive years, Finland boasts high levels of social support, a robust education system, and a strong sense of community.
2. Denmark: Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries, thanks to its generous social welfare programs, high-quality healthcare, and emphasis on work-life balance.
4. Iceland: With its breathtaking natural beauty and strong social cohesion, Iceland places a strong emphasis on gender equality, clean energy, and societal well-being.
5. Netherlands: The Netherlands ranks highly in areas such as social equality, education, and environmental consciousness, fostering a high quality of life for its residents.
Let’s take a closer look at the happiest countries and happiness score of each country
World happiness map shows that Denmark is the happiest country in the world with a score of 7.526 followed by Switzerland with a score of 7.50 followed by other countries. Happiness index shows the average happiness of people in different countries based on surveys. In the survey used for calculating this, respondents answer subjective questions on various aspects.
Ranking of Happiness 2013- 2015
| Rank | Country | Happiness 2021 | Happiness 2020 | Happiness score |
|---|
| 1 | Finland | 7.842 | 7.809 | 0.033 |
| 2 | Denmark | 7.62 | 7.646 | -0.026 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 7.571 | 7.56 | 0.011 |
| 4 | Iceland | 7.554 | 7.504 | 0.05 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 7.464 | 7.449 | 0.015 |
| 6 | Norway | 7.392 | 7.488 | -0.096 |
| 7 | Sweden | 7.363 | 7.353 | 0.01 |
| 8 | Luxembourg | 7.324 | 7.238 | 0.086 |
| 9 | New Zealand | 7.277 | 7.3 | -0.023 |
| 10 | Austria | 7.268 | 7.294 | -0.026 |
| 11 | Australia | 7.183 | 7.223 | -0.04 |
| 12 | Israel | 7.157 | 7.129 | 0.028 |
| 13 | Germany | 7.155 | 7.076 | 0.079 |
| 14 | Canada | 7.103 | 7.232 | -0.129 |
| 15 | Ireland | 7.085 | 7.129 | -0.044 |
| 16 | Costa Rica | 7.069 | 7.121 | -0.052 |
| 17 | United Kingdom | 7.064 | 7.165 | -0.101 |
| 18 | Czech Republic | 6.965 | 6.911 | 0.054 |
| 19 | United States | 6.951 | 6.94 | 0.011 |
| 20 | Belgium | 6.834 | 6.864 | -0.03 |
| 21 | France | 6.69 | 6.664 | 0.026 |
| 22 | Bahrain | 6.647 | 6.227 | 0.42 |
| 23 | Malta | 6.602 | 6.773 | -0.171 |
| 24 | Taiwan | 6.584 | 6.455 | 0.129 |
| 25 | United Arab Emirates | 6.561 | 6.791 | -0.23 |
| 26 | Saudi Arabia | 6.494 | 6.406 | 0.088 |
| 27 | Spain | 6.491 | 6.401 | 0.09 |
| 28 | Italy | 6.483 | 6.387 | 0.096 |
| 29 | Slovenia | 6.461 | 6.363 | 0.098 |
| 30 | Guatemala | 6.435 | 6.399 | 0.036 |
| 31 | Uruguay | 6.431 | 6.44 | -0.009 |
| 32 | Singapore | 6.377 | 6.377 | 0 |
| 33 | Slovakia | 6.331 | 6.281 | 0.05 |
| 34 | Brazil | 6.33 | 6.376 | -0.046 |
| 35 | Mexico | 6.317 | 6.465 | -0.148 |
| 36 | Jamaica | 6.309 | 5.89 | 0.419 |
| 37 | Lithuania | 6.255 | 6.215 | 0.04 |
| 38 | Cyprus | 6.223 | 6.159 | 0.064 |
| 39 | Estonia | 6.189 | 6.022 | 0.167 |
| 40 | Panama | 6.18 | 6.305 | -0.125 |
| 41 | Uzbekistan | 6.179 | 6.258 | -0.079 |
| 42 | Chile | 6.172 | 6.228 | -0.056 |
| 43 | Poland | 6.166 | 6.186 | -0.02 |
| 44 | Kazakhstan | 6.152 | 6.058 | 0.094 |
| 45 | Romania | 6.14 | 6.124 | 0.016 |
| 46 | Kuwait | 6.106 | 6.102 | 0.004 |
| 47 | Serbia | 6.078 | 5.778 | 0.3 |
| 48 | El Salvador | 6.061 | 6.348 | -0.287 |
| 49 | Mauritius | 6.049 | 6.101 | -0.052 |
| 50 | Latvia | 6.032 | 5.95 | 0.082 |
| 51 | Colombia | 6.012 | 6.163 | -0.151 |
| 52 | Hungary | 5.992 | 6 | -0.008 |
| 53 | Thailand | 5.985 | 5.999 | -0.014 |
| 54 | Nicaragua | 5.972 | 6.137 | -0.165 |
| 55 | Japan | 5.94 | 5.871 | 0.069 |
| 56 | Argentina | 5.929 | 5.975 | -0.046 |
| 57 | Portugal | 5.929 | 5.911 | 0.018 |
| 58 | Honduras | 5.919 | 5.953 | -0.034 |
| 59 | Croatia | 5.882 | 5.505 | 0.377 |
| 60 | Philippines | 5.88 | 6.006 | -0.126 |
| 61 | South Korea | 5.845 | 5.872 | -0.027 |
| 62 | Peru | 5.84 | 5.797 | 0.043 |
| 63 | Bosnia And Herzegovina | 5.813 | 5.674 | 0.139 |
| 64 | Moldova | 5.766 | 5.608 | 0.158 |
| 65 | Ecuador | 5.764 | 5.925 | -0.161 |
| 66 | Kyrgyzstan | 5.744 | 5.542 | 0.202 |
| 67 | Greece | 5.723 | 5.515 | 0.208 |
| 68 | Bolivia | 5.716 | 5.747 | -0.031 |
| 69 | Mongolia | 5.677 | 5.456 | 0.221 |
| 70 | Paraguay | 5.653 | 5.692 | -0.039 |
| 71 | Montenegro | 5.581 | 5.546 | 0.035 |
| 72 | Dominican Republic | 5.545 | 5.689 | -0.144 |
| 73 | Belarus | 5.534 | 5.54 | -0.006 |
| 74 | Russia | 5.477 | 5.546 | -0.069 |
| 75 | Hong Kong | 5.477 | 5.51 | -0.033 |
| 76 | Tajikistan | 5.466 | 5.556 | -0.09 |
| 77 | Vietnam | 5.411 | 5.353 | 0.058 |
| 78 | Libya | 5.41 | 5.489 | -0.079 |
| 79 | Malaysia | 5.384 | 5.384 | 0 |
| 80 | Indonesia | 5.345 | 5.286 | 0.059 |
| 81 | Republic Of The Congo | 5.342 | 5.194 | 0.148 |
| 82 | China | 5.339 | 5.124 | 0.215 |
| 83 | Ivory Coast | 5.306 | 5.233 | 0.073 |
| 84 | Armenia | 5.283 | 4.677 | 0.606 |
| 85 | Nepal | 5.269 | 5.137 | 0.132 |
| 86 | Bulgaria | 5.266 | 5.102 | 0.164 |
| 87 | Maldives | 5.198 | 5.198 | 0 |
| 88 | Azerbaijan | 5.171 | 5.165 | 0.006 |
| 89 | Cameroon | 5.142 | 5.085 | 0.057 |
| 90 | Senegal | 5.132 | 4.981 | 0.151 |
| 91 | Albania | 5.117 | 4.883 | 0.234 |
| 92 | North Macedonia | 5.101 | 5.16 | -0.059 |
| 93 | Ghana | 5.088 | 5.148 | -0.06 |
| 94 | Niger | 5.074 | 4.91 | 0.164 |
| 95 | Turkmenistan | 5.066 | 5.119 | -0.053 |
| 96 | Gambia | 5.051 | 4.751 | 0.3 |
| 97 | Benin | 5.045 | 5.216 | -0.171 |
| 98 | Laos | 5.03 | 4.889 | 0.141 |
| 99 | Bangladesh | 5.025 | 4.833 | 0.192 |
| 100 | Guinea | 4.984 | 4.949 | 0.035 |
| 101 | South Africa | 4.956 | 4.814 | 0.142 |
| 102 | Turkey | 4.948 | 5.132 | -0.184 |
| 103 | Pakistan | 4.934 | 5.693 | -0.759 |
| 104 | Morocco | 4.918 | 5.095 | -0.177 |
| 105 | Venezuela | 4.892 | 5.053 | -0.161 |
| 106 | Georgia | 4.891 | 4.673 | 0.218 |
| 107 | Algeria | 4.887 | 5.005 | -0.118 |
| 108 | Ukraine | 4.875 | 4.561 | 0.314 |
| 109 | Iraq | 4.854 | 4.785 | 0.069 |
| 110 | Gabon | 4.852 | 4.829 | 0.023 |
| 111 | Burkina Faso | 4.834 | 4.769 | 0.065 |
| 112 | Cambodia | 4.83 | 4.848 | -0.018 |
| 113 | Mozambique | 4.794 | 4.624 | 0.17 |
| 114 | Nigeria | 4.759 | 4.724 | 0.035 |
| 115 | Mali | 4.723 | 4.729 | -0.006 |
| 116 | Iran | 4.721 | 4.672 | 0.049 |
| 117 | Uganda | 4.636 | 4.432 | 0.204 |
| 118 | Liberia | 4.625 | 4.558 | 0.067 |
| 119 | Kenya | 4.607 | 4.583 | 0.024 |
| 120 | Tunisia | 4.596 | 4.392 | 0.204 |
| 121 | Lebanon | 4.584 | 4.772 | -0.188 |
| 122 | Namibia | 4.574 | 4.571 | 0.003 |
| 123 | Myanmar | 4.426 | 4.308 | 0.118 |
| 124 | Jordan | 4.395 | 4.633 | -0.238 |
| 125 | Chad | 4.355 | 4.423 | -0.068 |
| 126 | Sri Lanka | 4.325 | 4.327 | -0.002 |
| 127 | Eswatini | 4.308 | 4.308 | 0 |
| 128 | Comoros | 4.289 | 4.289 | 0 |
| 129 | Egypt | 4.283 | 4.151 | 0.132 |
| 130 | Ethiopia | 4.275 | 4.186 | 0.089 |
| 131 | Mauritania | 4.227 | 4.375 | -0.148 |
| 132 | Madagascar | 4.208 | 4.166 | 0.042 |
| 133 | Togo | 4.107 | 4.187 | -0.08 |
| 134 | Zambia | 4.073 | 3.759 | 0.314 |
| 135 | Sierra Leone | 3.849 | 3.926 | -0.077 |
| 136 | India | 3.819 | 3.573 | 0.246 |
| 137 | Burundi | 3.775 | 3.775 | 0 |
| 138 | Yemen | 3.658 | 3.527 | 0.131 |
| 139 | Tanzania | 3.623 | 3.476 | 0.147 |
| 140 | Haiti | 3.615 | 3.721 | -0.106 |
| 141 | Malawi | 3.6 | 3.538 | 0.062 |
| 142 | Lesotho | 3.512 | 3.653 | -0.141 |
| 143 | Botswana | 3.467 | 3.479 | -0.012 |
| 144 | Rwanda | 3.415 | 3.312 | 0.103 |
| 145 | Zimbabwe | 3.145 | 3.299 | -0.154 |
| 146 | Afghanistan | 2.523 | 2.567 | -0.044 |
Regional Happiness Trends
While the happiness rankings showcase the top-performing countries globally, it's interesting to note happiness trends within different regions. For instance:
- Nordic Countries: Scandinavian nations such as Finland, Denmark, and Iceland consistently dominate the top spots, reflecting their strong social welfare systems, economic stability, and progressive values.
- Western Europe: Countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg feature prominently, emphasizing the region's commitment to personal freedoms, social equality, and high standards of living.
- North America: While Canada consistently ranks high on happiness indexes, the United States has experienced fluctuations in recent years, highlighting the importance of factors such as social support, healthcare access, and economic stability.
Related Links Last Updated : December 19, 2016
