For the eighth straight year, Finland has topped the list as the planet’s happiest nation, as stated in the World Happiness Report 2025.
Specialists point out accessibility to natural environments and robust social support systems as contributing elements.
This is followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
These nations consistently rank highly in indicators such as social support, trust, and general well-being.
The World Happiness Report polled over 100,000 individuals across 140 nations and regions.
“Finland’s happiness doesn’t stem from unending euphoria but rather from a feeling of safety, trust, and equilibrium in everyday activities. This contentment arises from the assurance that assistance will be available whenever required—be it via robust social welfare systems, top-tier educational opportunities, or proximity to natural spaces,” stated Miika Mäkitalo, who serves as the CEO.
HappyOrNo
, a Finnish firm assisting companies in assessing customer contentment.
Mäkitalo added: “In our society, we prioritize equality and sustainability, fostering an atmosphere where individuals can flourish with support. Initiatives like extensive parental leaves and accessible child care services guarantee that households enjoy economic stability along with quality family time, underscoring a broader dedication to overall wellness and balancing professional and personal life.”
Eating together and having someone to count on
Communities where individuals often have communal dining experiences tend to exhibit greater levels of happiness and stronger social support networks.
Among European Union countries, Poland stands alone as the sole nation appearing in the upper echelon, boasting over ten communal meal occasions each week on average.
In contrast, Estonia sits at the very bottom of the list, with residents reporting an average of just 2.7 shared meals per week.
Individuals residing solo likewise report lower happiness levels.
In European households, families consisting of four to five individuals report the greatest degrees of contentment.
Nevertheless, loneliness amongst younger individuals is increasing, with 19% stating they have nobody to depend on — this marks a 39% rise since 2006.
A lot of young people often undervalue their contemporaries’ ability to understand and share feelings, which can result in avoiding social connections and losing chances for significant relationships.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, acts of kindness rose and have stayed 10% higher than before the pandemic.
It appears that donating and volunteering occur more frequently in Central and Eastern Europe, whereas sharing tangible assets is more prevalent in Western Europe.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, who leads Oxford University’s Wellbeing Research Centre and co-edits the World Happiness Report, stated, “This year’s report urges us to move past conventional factors such as health and wealth. Surprisingly, activities like having shared meals and fostering trust among individuals prove to be more significant indicators of happiness than previously thought.” He further emphasized, “Amidst today’s conditions of social seclusion and ideological division, finding means to gather everyone at one table becomes essential—this act is vital not only for personal but also communal wellbeing.”
