Since 2002, the World Happiness Report has used statistical analysis to determine the world's happiest countries. In its 2024 update, the report concluded that Finland is the happiest country in the world. To determine the world's happiest country, researchers analyzed comprehensive Gallup polling data from 143 countries for the past three years, specifically monitoring performance in six particular categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make your own life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels.
In order to properly compare each country's data, the researchers created a fictional country—christened Dystopia—filled with "the world's least-happy people." They then set Dystopia as the rock bottom value in each of the six categories and measured the scores of the real-world countries against this value. All six variables were then blended to create a single combined score for each country. Six out of the top seven happiest countries in the world for 2024 were Northern European countries. Finland took top honors—for the tenth year in a row—with an overall score of 7.741, followed (in order) by Denmark (7.583), Iceland (7.525), Sweden (7.344), Israel (7.341), the Netherlands (7.319), and Norway (7.302).
The least happy country in the world for 2024 was Afghanistan, whose 143rd-place ranking of 1.721 can be attributed in part to a low life expectancy rate, low gross domestic product rates per capita, and perhaps most importantly, the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Rounding out the bottom five are Lebanon (2.707), Lesotho (3.186), Sierra Leone (3.245), and DR Congo (3.295).
Country | World Happiness Score 2024 |
|---|---|
| Finland | 7.74 |
| Denmark | 7.58 |
| Iceland | 7.53 |
| Sweden | 7.34 |
| Israel | 7.34 |
| Netherlands | 7.32 |
| Norway | 7.3 |
| Luxembourg | 7.12 |
| Australia | 7.06 |
| Switzerland | 7.06 |
The Top 7 Happiest Countries in the World (plus an inspiring honorable mention) for 2024:
Finland
Finland ranks as the world's happiest country based on the 2024 report, with a score of 7.741 out of a total possible score of 10. The citizens of Finland have strong feelings of communal support and mutual trust that not only helped secure the #1 ranking but also helped the country as a whole navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. During that trying time, Finlanders felt strongly that they were free to make their own choices and showed minimal suspicion of government corruption. Both of these factors are strong contributors to overall happiness.
Denmark
The second-happiest country in the world is Denmark, which scores 7.583. Denmark's values for each of the six variables are quite comparable to those of Finland. In fact, Denmark has even outscored the leader in multiple categories, including GDP per capita and generosity. The country also scored the highest in happiness among older adults (60+).
Iceland
Iceland ranks as 2024's third-happiest country in the entire world, with a total score of 7.525. Of the top seven happiest countries around the globe, Iceland boasts the highest feeling of social support. Iceland also had the second-highest generosity score in the top seven, though it's worth noting that it ranked only 11th worldwide. Iceland is also a happier country for the youngsters at #4 than Finland (#7) and Denmark (#5).
Sweden
Fourth-place Sweden (7.344) ranks only #18 for happiness among the younger people (aged below 30). Yet, it is also #4 in older adults’ happiness. In fact, according to the report, along with Norway, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, Sweden is a country where the old are now significantly happier than the young, while in Portugal, Greece, and Israel the opposite is true.
Israel
Fifth in the ranks of the happiest countries with a score of 7.341, Israel showed emotional resilience in the wake of the October 7th attack. Israel occupies the second spot for the happiness of the young people, just behind Lithuania. However, conversely to Sweden and Norway, the older Israelis are significantly less happy than their young fellow citizens, the country ranking #18 for senior citizens’ happiness.
Netherlands
Edging out Norway for the honor of sixth-happiest country in the world is the Netherlands (also known as Holland to many tulip lovers), with a score of 7.319. The Netherlands scored higher in the generosity category than any other top-seven country and also had the highest GDP.
Norway
The citizens of seventh-place Norway (7.302) feel they are being well cared for by their government thanks to universal healthcare and free college tuition. Norwegians also enjoy a healthy work-life balance, working an average of 27 hours per week vs. 36 hours per week in the United States. Additionally, Norway has a low crime rate and a strong sense of community among its citizens—a quality it shares with many in the top seven.
Honorable Mention: Bhutan
Bhutan was previously excluded from the 2021 report due to a technicality: each country's scores were based upon detailed Gallup polls, but Gallup did not conduct polling in Bhutan during the required timeframe. In the 1970s, the 4th King of Bhutan stated, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” Since then, the idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has influenced Bhutan’s development policy. Its GNH Index value increased from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022. With a focus on mindfulness and well-being, Bhutan may soon give some of its Northern European counterparts a run for their money in terms of people’s happiness.
