Finland named world's happiest country - full list as UK doesn't even make top 20

1 week ago 4

Finnish boy with Finland flags on a nice winter day. Nordic Scandinavian people.

Finland was named as the happiest country 8th time in a row (Image: Getty)

Finland has once again claimed the title of the world's happiest country, marking its eighth consecutive year at the top of the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness Report. The Nordic nation’s continued success in the rankings has been attributed to factors such as access to nature, a strong welfare system, and high levels of social trust.

Meanwhile, the UK has slipped in rankings. Britain ranked 23rd place, as researchers pointed to increasing political polarisation and declining social trust as potential reasons for the downward trend. The 2025 report, released to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness, surveyed individuals from across the globe, asking them to rate their lives on a scale from 0 to 10. Finland emerged at the top with an average score of 7.736, followed closely by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.

In a notable shift, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time. Experts highlighted strong family bonds as a key factor behind their rise in happiness rankings.

The study also explored the impact of kindness and trust on happiness. An experiment involving lost wallets found that people are twice as likely to return them as predicted, suggesting that societal kindness is greater than commonly assumed.

Economist John F. Helliwell, a founding editor of the report, said: "People are much happier living where they think people care about each other."

Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, commented: "Happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection. It is up to us to translate this truth into action to foster peace, civility, and well-being worldwide."

Arenal at dusk

Costa Rica (pictured) and Mexico have climbed the ranks this year. (Image: Getty)

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