According to the latest World Happiness Report, there is reason to be optimistic. One positive development is that benevolence towards others, particularly helping strangers, has increased by 25% since before the pandemic. This trend has continued into 2022, as noted by John Helliwell, one of the report’s authors.
Additionally, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, global happiness levels have remained stable over the past three years, with life evaluations showing remarkable resilience. Positive emotions have remained twice as prevalent as negative ones, and feelings of social support are twice as strong as those of loneliness.
The report, produced by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, draws on global survey data from over 150 countries.
Countries are ranked based on their average life evaluations over the preceding three years. Finland has retained its position as the world’s happiest country for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway.
These countries score highly on factors such as healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption, generosity, and freedom to make important life decisions.
The report highlights the importance of taking a holistic view of society’s well-being and its members to achieve greater happiness. It suggests that institutions should contribute to human well-being, account for future generations, and preserve basic human rights.
Israel has moved up to fourth place this year, while Lithuania has entered the top 20 for the first time, climbing steadily in the rankings over the past six years. However, France has dropped out of the top 20 to 21st place this year. The report suggests that other societies can learn from the rankings by taking similar holistic approaches to improve happiness levels.
World’s happiest countries for 2023
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Israel
5. Netherlands
6. Sweden
7. Norway
8. Switzerland
9. Luxembourg
10. New Zealand
11. Austria
12. Australia
13. Canada
14. Ireland
15. United States
16. Germany
17. Belgium
18. Czech Republic
19. United Kingdom
20. Lithuania