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 that easy accessibility to natural areas and an effective social support network contribute to this.
This is followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
These nations consistently achieve top rankings 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 living. This contentment arises from the assurance that assistance will be available whenever required—be it via robust social welfare systems, superior educational opportunities, or proximity to natural environments,” stated Miika Mäkitalo, who serves as the CEO.
HappyOrNot
, a Finnish firm that assists companies in assessing customer contentment.
Mäkitalo added: “In our society, we prioritize equality and sustainability, fostering an atmosphere where individuals can find support and flourish. By implementing policies like extensive parental leave and accessible childcare, we guarantee that families enjoy economic stability along with quality family time. This demonstrates our broader dedication to overall well-being and achieving a healthy work-life equilibrium.”
Eating together and having someone to count on
Communities where individuals often gather for meals tend to exhibit greater levels of happiness and stronger social support systems.
Among European Union nations, Poland stands alone as the sole country featuring in the upper echelon, boasting over ten communal dining experiences each week on average.
In contrast, Estonia sits at the very bottom of the list, with residents reporting just 2.7 shared meals per week.
Individuals living solo are likewise not as content.
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 represents a 39% rise from 2006.
A lot of young adults undervalue their contemporaries’ understanding, causing them to refrain from forming connections and losing chances for significant interpersonal bonds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, acts of kindness rose and have stayed 10% higher than before the pandemic.
It seems that donating and volunteering occur more frequently in Central and Eastern Europe, whereas sharing tangible assets is more prevalent in Western Europe.
The current year’s report encourages us to move past conventional factors such as health and wealth. Surprisingly, it reveals that enjoying shared meals and having trust in others serve as more powerful indicators of happiness than anticipated,” stated Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, who leads Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and co-edits the World Happiness Report. “Amidst today’s climate of social disconnection and political division, we must discover methods to reunite individuals at dining tables—this step is essential for both personal and communal well-being.
