The latest World Happiness Report 2023 sees Finland holding the top spot for the sixth year in a row
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network has released the World Happiness Report for 2023. The annual publication ranks countries based on six life variables: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity and absence of corruption.
This year, country rankings are based on life evaluations from 2020 to 2022, showing how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our life variables.
Currently, global happiness averages at 5.5 out of 10, with European countries making the bulk of the top 10 list. According to the report, life evaluations have been “remarkably resilient. “Global averages in the pandemic years 2020 to 2022 are just as high as those in the pre-pandemic years 2017 to 2019,” the report stated.
The report also sees Lithuania in the top 20 for the first time. In 52nd place in 2017, the Baltic nation has been steadily climbing up the ranks for the past six years.
Below, we share three of the world’s happiest countries, according to the report.
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Finland
This Nordic country has been named the happiest country in the world for the sixth year in a row, with its happiness score rating 7.8 out of 10. This isn’t surprising news, as the Finnish welfare system offers multiple benefits, such as free healthcare and unemployment subsidies, that help citizens feel satisfied with their lives. On top of this, Finnish culture also places emphasis on a sense of community, trust and belonging.
