Finland has once again claimed the title of the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report. The Nordic nations of Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden maintained their positions in the top four, continuing their dominance in global happiness rankings. However, this year’s report revealed a significant shift for North America, with both the United States and Canada experiencing notable declines.
The United States fell to 24th place, marking its lowest ranking since the report began. Researchers attribute this drop primarily to growing dissatisfaction among Americans under 30. Young adults reported feeling less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices, and more pessimistic about their future living standards compared to older generations. Ron-Levey, a lead researcher on the report, explained to CNN that this generational divide in happiness levels has significantly impacted the country’s overall score.
Canada followed a similar trend, dropping to 18th place—a stark contrast to its 5th-place ranking a decade ago. The decline was particularly pronounced among young Canadians, as well as within the 2SLGBTQI+ community, low-income households, and Indigenous populations. Mental health challenges among youth were identified as a key factor in Canada’s decreasing happiness levels.
While the report highlighted these concerning trends in North America, it also offered a surprising insight: people tend to be kinder and more supportive than we often assume. John Helliwell, a founding editor of the World Happiness Report, noted that recognizing this reality can improve both personal happiness and societal trust. “When people realize their fellow citizens are generally well-intentioned, they’re more likely to view strangers as potential friends rather than threats,” he said.
The top 20 happiest countries remained largely unchanged from previous years, with European nations dominating the list. Costa Rica and Mexico stood out as the highest-ranked non-European countries, securing 6th and 10th place respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan ranked as the world’s least happy country at 147th, followed by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe—all nations grappling with severe economic instability or political conflict.
The findings suggest that while some countries continue to thrive in fostering happiness among their citizens, others—particularly the US and Canada—face growing challenges in meeting the needs of younger generations. Without addressing these issues, both nations risk falling further in future happiness rankings. Meanwhile, Finland and its Nordic neighbors demonstrate that strong social support systems, personal freedom, and community trust remain the foundation for national happiness.
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