Finland has once again been named the world’s happiest country, securing the top position in the World Happiness Report 2025 for the eighth consecutive year. Released on the UN’s International Day of Happiness, the report evaluates the happiness levels of 147 countries based on key factors such as social support, health, freedom, generosity, perception of corruption, and GDP.
With an impressive score of 7.74 on a scale of 0 to 10, Finland continues to dominate the list, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. These Nordic nations have consistently ranked high due to their strong social support systems, excellent healthcare, and emphasis on work-life balance.
A notable surprise in this year’s rankings is the entry of Costa Rica and Mexico into the top 10, securing the 6th and 10th spots, respectively. Meanwhile, the United States saw a significant drop to its lowest ranking ever at 24th place, while the UK settled at 23rd.
Top 10 Happiest Countries (2025):
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
India’s Position Improves to 118th Place
India has made slight progress, moving up from 126th place in 2024 to 118th in 2025. Despite this improvement, India remains behind several conflict-affected nations like Ukraine and Iraq. The country performed well in social support, attributed to its strong community-driven culture and family structures. However, it ranked lower in areas like freedom of choice, which affected its overall standing.
Among India’s neighboring countries, Nepal ranked highest at 92, followed by Pakistan at 109 and China at 68. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ranked lower at 133 and 134, respectively.
Unhappiest Countries in the World
Afghanistan continues to rank as the unhappiest country globally, largely due to deteriorating conditions for women and ongoing social instability. Sierra Leone and Lebanon followed closely as the second and third unhappiest nations, struggling with economic hardships, conflict, and poor governance.
As the global happiness index continues to evolve, countries are focusing on strengthening social well-being, economic stability, and personal freedoms to improve their rankings.
