USA No one is happier than the Finns
The Finns are the happiest people on earth. In the new World Happiness Report, the northern Europeans are in first place for the ninth year in a row.
19.03.2026, 03:50
SDA
With Iceland, Denmark and Sweden, three other Nordic countries make it into the top 5, with only Costa Rica (4) in between. Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg and Switzerland follow in sixth to tenth place.
Happiness boost for Germany
But according to the report, the Germans are also doing better: from 22nd place last year, Germany made a leap to 17th place - overtaking Austria, which dropped two places (19). The USA fought its way up one place from 24th (23rd).
The World Happiness Report is published every year around World Happiness Day (March 20) by an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford. It provides insights into the happiness and perceived quality of life of people around the world. Factors such as a country's economic performance, health, the feeling of freedom, people's generosity and the perception of corruption are included in the assessment.
