The Happiest Countries in the World for 2024

It’s been more than a decade since the first World Happiness Report was released in 2012. Since then, the United Nations has published an annual ranking of the world’s happiest countries—locations where the inhabitants generally report higher levels of contentment compared to others. Over these years, various nations have faced challenges such as multi-year pandemics, natural disasters, and conflicts, yet the UN and worldwide governments remain dedicated to understanding what truly enhances human happiness to inform policies aimed at well-being.

This year’s research, disclosed on March 20, 2024, coinciding with World Happiness Day, is based on a three-year average from people’s assessments of their quality of life. It considers six significant factors that influence happiness: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption. Moreover, the report analyses the distribution of happiness within countries; notably, countries with a smaller happiness gap—where citizens share similar access to these factors—generally demonstrate higher overall happiness.

Notably, the report introduces age-specific indices for the first time, evaluating how happiness ratings differ among those under 30, with Lithuania topping the list, and those over 60, in which Denmark is identified as the happiest nation for this demographic. The research highlights generational comparisons, noting that individuals born prior to 1965 tend to report higher averages of happiness than those born after 1980. Interestingly, evaluations of life satisfaction among Millennials decrease with age, whereas life satisfaction for Baby Boomers tends to increase as they grow older.

Despite the concerning statistics, optimism arises from the findings concerning the impact of the Covid crisis on people’s outlooks. The study identified that the pandemic “led to a worldwide increase in the proportion of people who have helped others in need,” reflecting a significant increase in generational altruism—particularly among Millennials and Generation Z, who are observed to be more willing than past generations to assist others.

What is the Happiest Country in the World?

For the seventh consecutive year, Finland has been recognized as the happiest country globally.

Is the UK Among the Happiest Countries?

The UK does not appear in the top ten happiest countries, ranking at number 20, which represents a drop from its previous 19th position in 2023. Notably, it places behind Ireland (17th), Canada (15th), Costa Rica (12th), and New Zealand (11th).

How Does the Study Work?

The World Happiness Report offers insights into various factors that could explain the differences in reported happiness across nations. Rather than the rankings being solely derived from predetermined metrics, they rely on individuals’ self-assessments of their happiness using the Cantril Ladder. This approach involves respondents rating their satisfaction on a scale from 0 (the least happy) to 10 (the happiest).

Following the collection of this data, the report explores several factors correlated with the variations in happiness across the populations of different countries. While experts reference the six factors mentioned earlier, it’s crucial to note that the rankings primarily reflect the sentiments of those surveyed at that particular time, without accounting for broader cultural, political, or societal dynamics.

Top Three Happiest Countries in the World for 2024