The Briefing
- Finland scores 7.8 out of 10
- Ninth consecutive year in first place
- Rankings based on resident self-evaluations
Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the ninth time. The ranking is based on the World Happiness Report which asks residents to rate their own quality of life.
On a scale of zero to ten, Finnish residents gave their lives an average score of 7.8. The ranking is determined by how people perceive their own well-being.
Iceland ranked second, and Denmark followed in third. Finland’s neighbor, Sweden, was ranked fifth.
Researchers note that several key factors explain the differences between nations. These include economic output per person and average life expectancy.
Levels of social support and the freedom to make life choices are also vital. Low levels of corruption contribute significantly to the high ranking in Finland.
Having a reliable social circle is another major factor for participants. This sense of security is a core part of the Finnish social system.
The report showed notable changes in other parts of the world.
The report showed notable changes in other parts of the world. Costa Rica experienced the largest climb in the rankings this year.
Switzerland returned to the top ten list after being absent last year. However, no English-speaking countries made it into the top ten positions.
This trend mirrors the results seen in the previous year’s report. Countries experiencing conflict or located near war zones remain at the bottom of the list.
The rankings are not decided by outside observers or experts. The final list depends only on the answers provided by the people living in each country.
