To determine which nations are the happiest in the world, a Gallup World Poll collects data in a variety of fields each year. Even though the number one slot hasn’t moved in six editions, the top 10 has altered for the 2024 edition of the World Happiness Report.
Naturally, gauging general happiness is a challenging task. However, the World Happiness Report accomplishes this by using information collected on life evaluation to assign a score to each country surveyed.
In a Cantril ladder survey, respondents are asked to rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the best life and 0 representing the worst. Each country uses about 1,000 survey replies.
The Happiness Report averages the responses provided by respondents in each country over the previous three years to determine each nation’s unique score, or Average Life Evaluation.
Afghanistan has once again been named the world’s least happy country, scoring 1.721 out of all the countries surveyed. The US comes in at number 23 with a score of 6.725, while the UK comes in at number 20 with a score of 6.749. Which nation, however, is the happiest overall?
1. Finland
According to the 2024 World Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest nation on earth. Finland has been voted the happiest nation on Earth for seven consecutive years.
Finland received an overall score of 7.741 in the report. Finland is well-known for its love of saunas and for being the home of reindeer and Santa Claus. Finland has over 74% of its territory covered by forests.
2. Denmark
According to the World Happiness Report, Denmark has a score of 7.583, making it the second-happiest country in the world. Denmark has been named the second-happiest nation in the world for five consecutive years.
A founding member of many of the most significant organisations in the world, including NATO, the UN, the Nordic Council, the OECD, and the OSCE, Denmark is yet another Scandinavian nation that ranks among the top ten happiest in the world.
3. Iceland
Iceland received a score of 7.525, making it the third-happiest country in the world in 2023, according to the World Happiness Report. Iceland has been placed third for the second consecutive year.
With only 375,436 inhabitants, Iceland is the smallest nation on this list in terms of population. The nation gave birth to the world-renowned artist Bjรถrk and is well-known for its geysers and volcanic outbursts.
4. Sweden
Sweden’s World Happiness Report score of 7.395 places it as the fourth happiest nation in the world.
The nation noted for its numerous lakes and forests is also the birthplace of ABBA, Ikea, and numerous outstanding metal bands. It is estimated that the Scandinavian country has around 100,000 lakes and that forests and trees cover almost 70% of its land area.
5. Israel
With a score of 7.344, Israel ranks fifth in the world for happiness in 2023. Israel, one of only two countries outside of Europe on this list, is arguably the most unexpected of these ten countries. It has numerous diplomatic problems.
6. The Netherlands
According to the World Happiness Report, the Netherlands is the sixth-happiest nation in the world, scoring 7.319.
In addition to being known for its windmills, clogs, and multicoloured poppies, the Netherlands is home to The Hague’s International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice.
7. Norway
With a score of 7.302, Norway ranks seventh in the world for happiness in 2024.
All of the Scandinavian countries are included here, with Norway being the first. It has a lengthy border with Sweden. It is a well-liked tourist destination for both its fjords and its northern lights.
8. Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s 2024 World Happiness Report score of 7.122 places it as the eighth happiest nation in the world. The little European country has fallen three spots this year after peaking at number six in 2022.
Situated in the centre of Germany, Belgium, and France, Luxembourg is a landlocked country. With a population of only 655,112 (UN), the small nation is the smallest on this list in terms of total size, measuring only 2,586 kmยฒ.
9. Switzerland
With a score of 7.060, Switzerland ranks in ninth place in the 2024 World Happiness Report. The nation came in at number four in 2022.
Switzerland, another landlocked nation following Luxembourg, is well-known for its banking, chocolate, ski resorts, and mountains. The four national languages of the neutral country are Romansh, Italian, German French, and French.
10. The nation of Australia
The World Happiness Report ranked Australia as the tenth happiest nation in the world in 2024, with a score of 7.057. New Zealand held this position in 2023, but it has since fallen to 11th place.