The 2025 World Happiness Report is out and it is not excellent news for the US. Whereas the highest 4 happiest international locations are not any shock – Scandinavia and Iceland – the US is changing into unhappier by the 12 months, slipping to its lowest spot on the desk ever.
Within the newly launched report, the US dropped in general happiness to 24 on the checklist, one spot down the ladder from final 12 months’s place. And on particular person metrics, the nation might have climbed to fourth spot when it comes to GDP per capita (4, up from 6), it additionally dropped 5 locations within the Freedom class, coming in at 115. For context, China’s sense of freedom ranked 65.
The report, now in its thirteenth version, is launched yearly to coincide with the United Nations Worldwide Day of Happiness on March 20. It sources knowledge from the Gallup World Ballot, which quizzes individuals around the globe on how they rating their life of their nation. Then, GDP per capita, social assist, wholesome life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption are assessed in nearer element.
To the north, Canada additionally slipped down the ladder however stays effectively forward of the US, coming in at 18 after hovering round 15 for the previous few years. In the meantime, for the primary time, two Latin American nations – Costa Rica (6) and Mexico (10) hit the highest 10, as Australia slipped out of it, coming in at 11. The US, Canada and Australia aren’t the one English-speaking international locations rather less completely satisfied – the UK (23) slipped out of the highest 20 for the primary time in practically a decade.
Taiwan (27), in the meantime, jumped forward of Singapore (34) to take the title of the happiest place in Asia. And, as somebody who has been dwelling in Taiwan for 2 months, I actually agree with this regional win. (And, in fact, although Taiwan is technically, formally the Republic of China, the Taiwanese individuals regard the island as inherently totally different to and unbiased of mainland China).
Very like the highest spots, the tail finish of the rankings are additionally constant, with Afghanistan (147), Sierra Leone (146) and Lebanon (145) as soon as once more rating because the least happiest locations on Earth for residents.
So does the US rank – which has dropped practically 10 spots since 2022 – shock you? It is value noting that though that is the 2025 report the info itself is sourced from the three earlier years (2022, 2023 and 2024). With that in thoughts, it will be attention-grabbing to see the place the US sits in 2026.
The 20 happiest international locations in 2025
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Sweden
5. Netherlands
6. Costa Rica
7. Norway
8. Israel
9. Luxembourg
10. Mexico
11. Australia
12. New Zealand
13. Switzerland
14. Belgium
15. Eire
16. Lithuania
17. Austria
18. Canada
19. Slovenia
20. Czech Republic
You’ll be able to learn your entire checklist on the World Happiness Report website.
Supply: World Happiness Report
