Introduction to the World Happiness Index
The World Happiness Report, published annually, ranks over 140 countries and regions based on residents’ self-assessments of their happiness. The survey is conducted by the University of Oxford in partnership with analytics firm Gallup and the United Nations. This year’s report reveals some interesting trends and insights into the state of global happiness.
The Happiest Countries
Despite sharing a border with an at-war Russia and receiving limited winter sunlight, Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the eighth year in a row. Finland’s Nordic neighbors continued to dominate the top of the rankings, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden making up the rest of the top four, just as they did last year.
The United States’ Decline in Happiness
In contrast, the U.S. dropped to its lowest ever spot at No. 24, continuing its decline from a peak of the 11th place over a decade ago. The report described political polarization as a result of growing despair among Americans. “The decline in life satisfaction explains the overall rise in anti-system votes but trust in others then comes into play,” the report said, with “unhappy people attracted by the extremes of the political spectrum.”
Causes of the Decline
As for what has caused the downward spiral in the U.S., “on-going challenges around cost of living, economic uncertainty and political polarization may have played a role,” said Mark Williamson, CEO of the U.K.-based nonprofit Action for Happiness. “We have also observed a significant increase in anxiety in the population.” Despite GDP per capita in the U.S. and Western Europe having continually risen since the mid-200s, a drop in the happiness of Western democracies “could be blamed on the feelings of financial insecurity and loneliness experienced by Americans and Europeans — two symptoms of a damaged social fabric,” the report said.
The Unhappiest Countries
The world’s unhappiest country was once again Afghanistan, where the Taliban continues to make life “especially difficult” for women and girls, limiting their access to education and employment. Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa plagued by significant human rights violations, was the second least happy country, while Lebanon ranked third from the bottom, with its past year marked by an ongoing economic crisis and war between Hezbollah — the Iran-backed militia based in the country — and Israel.
The Impact of Loneliness
In a sign of growing loneliness, more Americans are dining solo. About 1 in 4 reported that they ate all their meals alone the previous day — a 53% increase since 2003. In the U.S., young adults reported the lowest happiness and social connection of all age groups, researchers said, with loneliness among young people rising globally as well. In 2023, almost 1 in 5 young adults reported having no one for social support.
Promoting a More Contented Society
But the report does include some suggestions about how to promote a more contended society: try having more faith in other people and being nicer to them. The study found that strangers are actually twice as kind as people expect, with the frequency with which people’s lost wallets were returned to them double the rate at which those surveyed thought. “The most heart-warming and important finding from this report is that people are much kinder than we think they are,” Williamson said. “Kindness ripples outwards and our expectations about kindness matter.”
Conclusion
The World Happiness Report provides valuable insights into the state of global happiness and the factors that contribute to it. While some countries continue to dominate the top of the rankings, others are struggling with growing despair and loneliness. By understanding the causes of these trends and promoting kindness and social connection, we can work towards creating a more contented society.
FAQs
Q: What is the World Happiness Report?
A: The World Happiness Report is an annual survey that ranks over 140 countries and regions based on residents’ self-assessments of their happiness.
Q: Which country has been ranked the happiest for the eighth year in a row?
A: Finland has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the eighth year in a row.
Q: What is the main cause of the decline in happiness in the U.S.?
A: The main cause of the decline in happiness in the U.S. is attributed to on-going challenges around cost of living, economic uncertainty, and political polarization.
Q: How can we promote a more contented society?
A: We can promote a more contented society by having more faith in other people, being nicer to them, and promoting kindness and social connection.
