Happiness may be more than just a state of mind. Social scientists tend to point to several concrete factors that help define the level of “happiness” in large populations.
The world’s happiest countries are likely to be more affluent than others, and their citizens have greater personal freedom to make life choices, stronger support networks, and a relatively longer healthy life expectancy. (In the U.S., these are the states with the longest life expectancy.)
To identify the happiest countries in the world, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the World Happiness Report 2022 produced by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a series of working groups of independent experts in various fields launched under the auspices of the United Nations.
Researchers for the report used a range of survey data from the 2019-2021 Gallup World Poll to rank happiness levels in 146 countries. We have added healthy life expectancy data, which was for 20189, from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory. GDP per capita for each country was obtained from the World Bank and is for 2021, except for the United Arab Emirates, which is for 2020.
Finland continues to occupy the top spot, being named the happiest country in the world for the fifth year in a row, with a score significantly ahead of that for other nations in the top 10. Denmark is again in second place. Iceland moved up one spot to occupy 3rd place this year, switching places with Switzerland, which has dropped to 4th.
Overall, people in Nordic countries appear to be in high spirits. There are five Nordic countries among eight happiest nations, according to the report.
Two countries have set national records in this year’s report. France ranked 20th, reaching its highest position in the 10 years this report has been published. Canada, on the other hand, slipped to its lowest ranking ever – 15th.
A major factor contributing to people’s level of happiness, according to Gallup, appears to be the growth of benevolence. Though the levels of worry and stress have increased slightly between 2020 and 2021, people’s kindness in difficult times and communities coming together – by giving money to charity, helping strangers, and doing voluntary work – has increased significantly. (These are the states where people are volunteering the most.)
25. Saudi Arabia
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.523/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.494/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.029 — 13th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $23,586
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 64.4 years
24. United Arab Emirates
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.576/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.561/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.016 — 6th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2020 GDP per capita: $36,285
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 66.3 years
23. Costa Rica
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.582/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.069/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.487 — 2nd largest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $12,509
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 70.0 years
22. Slovenia
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.630/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.461/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.169 — 19th largest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $29,201
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.1 years
21. Bahrain
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.647/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.647/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.000 — no change out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $22,232
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: N/A
20. France
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.687/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.690/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.003 — 2nd smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $43,519
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.3 years
19. Belgium
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.805/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.834/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.029 — 9th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $51,768
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: N/A
18. Czechia
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.920/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.897/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.023 — 10th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $26,378
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 69.1 years
17. United Kingdom
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.943/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.064/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.121 — 23rd largest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $47,334
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 70.3 years
16. United States
> 2022 Happiness score: 6.977/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 6.951/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.025 — 12th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $69,288
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 65.8 years
15. Canada
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.025/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.103/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.078 — 31st smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $52,051
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.4 years
14. Germany
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.034/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.155/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.120 — 24th largest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $50,802
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.3 years
13. Ireland
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.041/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.085/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.044 — 18th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $99,152
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.3 years
12. Australia
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.162/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.183/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.021 — 7th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $59,934
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.1 years
11. Austria
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.163/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.268/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.105 — 30th largest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $53,268
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.2 years
10. New Zealand
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.200/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.277/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.077 — 30th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $48,802
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 70.3 years
9. Israel
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.364/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.157/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.207 — 15th largest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $51,430
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.7 years
8. Norway
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.365/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.392/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.027 — 8th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $89,203
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.5 years
7. Sweden
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.384/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.363/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.022 — 8th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $60,239
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years
6. Luxembourg
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.404/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.324/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.080 — 22nd smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $135,683
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: N/A
5. Netherlands
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.415/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.464/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.049 — 20th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $58,061
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years
4. Switzerland
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.512/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.571/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.060 — 22nd smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $93,457
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.9 years
3. Iceland
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.557/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.554/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.004 — 2nd smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $68,384
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.1 years
2. Denmark
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.636/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.620/10
> Difference in happiness score: 0.017 — 7th smallest increase out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $67,803
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.3 years
1. Finland
> 2022 Happiness score: 7.821/10
> 2021 Happiness score: 7.842/10
> Difference in happiness score: -0.021 — 6th smallest decrease out of 146 countries
> 2021 GDP per capita: $53,983
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.2 years