World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines

What is World Happiness Report?

World Happiness Report (WHR) is the most prominent global wellbeing (overall quality of a person’s life) publication includes more than 140 countries. It is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford each year. It’s not just focus on gathering the data but to improve the every person’s life.

How is happiness index measured?

  • GDP per capita
  • Healthy life expectancy
  • Social support
  • Freedom to make life choices
  • Generosity
  • Perceptions of corruption
  • Dystopia + Residual

WHR is partnering with Gallup to conduct the surveys and collect the data except GDP per capita and Healthy Life Expectancy which are gathered from World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) respectively.

Top tier Researchers and Editorials from different academic disciplines analyze the data and publish the World Happiness Report. These are mostly affiliated with Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

Please Note: WHR usually analyze data from previous 3 years to improve accuracy.

Who is happiest country in the world?

Quick answer is Finland. This is not the first time, Finland has secured the top spot over the last eight consecutive years. Its Cantril Ladder score according to the 2025 report is 7.736 (averaged 2022 – 2024), which is the highest among all countries.

Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World (2025 Rankings)

Finland has a low population and is rich in resources. Their system ensured they had the facilities they needed to lead a happy life. Finland charges high taxes but spends on public happiness.

What’s Causing the Decline of the US and UK? A Deep Look at Family, Economy, and Social Values

The United States of America has hit its lowest ever rank, currently ranking 24th with a Cantril Ladder score of 6.724. The main reason behind their decline is the increasing unhappiness among young people, which is expected to continue over time.

The UK also further falls from 20th position in 2024 to 23rd in the 2025 report.

Key Factors Behind the Decline of Modern Societies in US and UK

  • Unfair distribution of wealth and resources

  • Weakening of the family system and growing emotional distance

  • Increase in materialism and self-interest

  • Marital disharmony and increasing divorce rates

  • Decline of traditional social values

  • Men and women are spending less time at home due to economic pressure and instability

  • Distraction from family responsibilities

  • Growing preference for single life over marriage

  • Decline in spiritual and moral values

  • Social disorder and increasing distrust among individuals

To understand the effects of capitalism on family life, we need to examine the economic and social changes in the US and the UK over time.

Capitalism has had a profound impact on social structure in the past and has completely changed the traditional concepts of family life.

The rise of capitalism in economic ideologies and systems not only affected the economy but also caused a deterioration in human relationships, family relations, and social values.

The effects of capitalism on family life can be described in the context of different aspects, namely economic pressure, the nature of relationships, and the decline of social values.

Economic pressure and complications of family life

The most prominent evil of the capitalist system was the unfair distribution of wealth and resources. 80 percent of people had such limited income that they could barely meet their needs, while 20 percent had immense wealth.

Due to these economic imbalances in the US and the UK, severe tension arose in family life, and ordinary men were unable to maintain their families amid financial instability.

In these capitalist systems, both men and women entered the job market to survive and maintain economic stability, which created distance between family members.

In the past century, women were highly inclined towards employment and business due to economic constraints.

Nature of Relationships and Marital Relations

Their capitalist system has severely affected marital relations, disrupting the balance and harmony in family life.

As a result, the divorce rate has increased, and changes are being seen in the traditional concept of married life.

Due to the dazzling reflection of the capitalist system, married women found their lives burdensome because they had no income and were busy with housework all day.

Later, they found independent life and economic prosperity more attractive than traditional family life.

And its effects became more serious because this trend completely broke down the family system.

In the pursuit of economic development and material prosperity, individuals further ignored the importance of family relationships.

In relationships, interests have been given greater importance than spiritual feelings, upsetting the balance of family life; the concept of marriage has disappeared, and single life has been preferred, leading to social chaos and the collapse of the family system.

Complete World Happiness Report 2025 Rankings: Full List of All Countries

RankCountry nameCantril Ladder score (Averaged 2022-2024)UpperwhiskerLowerwhiskerLog GDP per capitaSocial supportHealthy life expectancyFreedom to make life choicesGenerosityPerceptions of corruptionDystopia + residual
1Finland7.7367.817.6621.7491.7830.8240.9860.110.5021.782
2Denmark7.5217.6117.4311.8251.7480.820.9550.150.4881.535
3Iceland7.5157.6067.4251.7991.840.8730.9710.2010.1731.659
4Sweden7.3457.4277.2621.7831.6980.8890.9520.170.4671.385
5Netherlands7.3067.3727.241.8221.6670.8440.860.1860.3441.583
6Costa Rica7.2747.3617.1871.4921.60.680.9480.0670.1182.369
7Norway7.2627.3537.1711.9021.7110.8630.9620.1680.4251.231
8Israel7.2347.3017.1681.6951.7430.8240.740.1440.1931.895
9Luxembourg7.1227.2137.0312.0281.5580.8640.9310.1170.3971.227
10Mexico6.9797.0686.8891.4351.5040.550.8790.0570.1182.438
11Australia6.9747.0576.891.7671.6470.8410.8570.1640.2851.413
12New Zealand6.9527.0316.8741.6981.7120.8150.8610.1670.4291.27
13Switzerland6.9357.0156.8541.871.6220.8830.8890.1560.4681.047
14Belgium6.916.9746.8451.7831.6460.8520.8950.1190.3061.309
15Ireland6.8896.9776.8011.9881.6590.8230.9060.1790.3820.952
16Lithuania6.8296.9126.7461.6841.6990.5920.7020.0310.1231.998
17Austria6.816.8916.7281.7911.5920.8140.8560.1790.281.297
18Canada6.8036.8886.7181.7491.6470.8320.8130.1680.3231.271
19Slovenia6.7926.8896.6951.6921.7180.8020.9610.1210.1131.384
20Czechia6.7756.8546.6961.6921.7160.6580.9160.1180.0841.591
21United Arab Emirates6.7596.8466.6731.8121.2940.6590.9340.1650.2351.66
22Germany6.7536.8546.6521.7851.6250.7760.8580.1480.3511.21
23United Kingdom6.7286.8096.6471.7251.5620.7790.8720.2110.3181.26
24United States6.7246.826.6291.8391.6140.6040.6440.1710.1611.69
25Belize6.7116.9896.4321.2561.540.5251.0180.0720.0822.218
26Poland6.6736.7346.6111.6661.5950.630.790.0210.1691.802
27Taiwan Province of China6.6696.766.5791.731.5830.8170.760.0570.1871.534
28Uruguay6.6616.7436.5781.5541.6540.5230.9130.0780.1971.741
29Kosovo6.6596.7616.5571.2811.4540.8960.8930.2010.0871.847
30Kuwait6.6296.7386.521.6911.4810.7660.9340.1430.1671.448
31Serbia6.6066.6986.5131.4891.620.5450.7670.1310.1071.946
32Saudi Arabia6.66.7026.4971.7431.5660.7140.9150.1050.1871.37
33France6.5936.6686.5171.7331.5350.8320.7430.0990.2641.386
34Singapore6.5656.656.4812.0221.5650.9350.8560.1640.5220.501
35Romania6.5636.6556.471.6361.4010.5610.8470.0280.0152.075
36Brazil6.4946.5936.3941.3911.5190.480.830.0890.1272.057
37El Salvador6.4926.6196.3651.2221.2280.5590.9550.0540.2642.211
38Spain6.4666.5476.3851.691.6850.8940.7340.1120.181.17
39Estonia6.4176.4976.3371.651.7160.6420.9020.1280.3781.001
40Italy6.4156.5216.3091.7241.5260.8520.6410.0820.0711.517
41Panama6.4076.5316.2841.5941.60.7170.8760.0410.0421.537
42Argentina6.3976.4926.3021.5041.6220.5790.8240.0480.0831.736
43Kazakhstan6.3786.4626.2941.5861.6880.5040.8780.1110.1181.492
44Guatemala6.3626.5036.2221.2491.330.3760.8820.0750.0852.365
45Chile6.3616.4496.2731.5371.5770.7110.7790.0930.0851.579
46Viet Nam6.3526.4246.281.2781.5330.6311.0120.0390.1741.684
47Nicaragua6.336.4756.1861.0841.470.6460.9120.1030.2711.844
48Malta6.3166.3986.2341.761.6710.8370.8370.2170.1150.879
49Thailand6.2226.3276.1171.4261.5510.6330.9270.2230.0391.423
50Slovakia6.2216.2886.1541.6291.7620.5470.7040.0580.071.451
51Latvia6.2076.2926.1231.6191.7110.5030.7890.1080.0821.396
52Oman6.1976.425.9731.6031.4110.50.930.142
53Uzbekistan6.1936.2976.0881.1791.6150.6540.9770.1950.2081.364
54Paraguay6.1726.2796.0641.3291.6150.2910.9210.0970.0631.857
55Japan6.1476.236.0631.6781.550.9210.7460.0140.21.038
56Bosnia and Herzegovina6.1366.2346.0391.4051.5450.6160.7490.1780.0091.635
57Philippines6.1076.225.9941.1771.3850.3150.9660.0750.112.079
58Republic of Korea6.0386.1315.9451.7091.3570.9030.6780.10.1391.152
59Bahrain6.036.175.8911.7521.3910.6090.9070.1480.1671.057
60Portugal6.0136.1185.9071.6461.560.8220.8790.040.0341.032
61Colombia6.0046.1125.8971.381.5130.5870.7770.0390.0511.658
62Ecuador5.9656.0835.8481.2991.320.7020.7120.0580.0661.808
63Honduras5.9646.1085.8211.0361.1870.4360.8620.1340.0792.229
64Malaysia5.9556.0555.8541.5711.3150.4460.9910.1810.111.341
65Peru5.9476.0495.8441.3231.3640.5510.710.050.0211.929
66Russian Federation5.9456.0265.8651.631.5490.470.7020.0950.1251.373
67Cyprus5.9426.0585.8271.721.3480.840.6120.1080.0411.273
68China5.9216.0235.8191.4451.3070.7890.7640.0790.1541.382
69Hungary5.9156.025.8091.6381.7420.5870.6810.0990.0571.111
70Trinidad and Tobago5.9056.1595.6511.5491.5320.4190.760.1110.0011.533
71Montenegro5.8775.9655.7891.5071.5510.6180.7680.0750.1381.22
72Croatia5.875.9635.7771.6441.6730.6690.4780.0220.0651.319
73Jamaica5.876.1785.5631.1821.5450.5040.8690.0750.0191.676
74Bolivia5.8685.9775.7581.1731.3560.3460.8170.0670.0522.057
75Kyrgyzstan5.8585.9385.7781.0321.7150.6470.9810.1690.0531.261
76Dominican Republic5.8465.9885.7051.4571.50.6150.8660.0630.1861.16
77Mongolia5.8335.9195.7471.3361.7310.4230.6290.180.0531.481
78Mauritius5.8325.9485.7151.4991.5210.6170.7610.0950.131.209
79Libya5.825.9135.7271.2471.3090.5490.7240.1110.2141.666
80Republic of Moldova5.8195.9335.7061.3321.430.4140.830.0540.0371.722
81Greece5.7765.8755.6771.6081.4380.7250.3960.0030.0631.543
82Venezuela5.6835.7965.5701.4930.5150.7020.1540.1172.701
83Indonesia5.6175.7175.5161.2881.3720.4540.9180.3230.0441.218
84Algeria5.5715.6745.4691.3151.3630.7820.5220.0570.2191.313
85Bulgaria5.5545.6475.461.5731.7250.4630.7080.05501.029
86North Macedonia5.5035.5975.4091.4581.5370.5440.6370.130.0071.19
87Armenia5.4945.5965.3911.3911.3490.8280.7860.0320.1580.95
88Hong Kong SAR of China5.4915.5665.4171.791.410.9480.6740.1160.3860.168
89Albania5.4115.5395.2841.3711.1220.6960.8410.1030.0571.22
90Tajikistan5.4115.4855.3370.9141.5550.6580.0850.342
91Georgia5.45.4965.3041.4441.2750.4820.84400.1721.182
92Nepal5.3115.4375.1840.9441.210.4630.7640.1550.0991.676
93Lao PDR5.3015.4225.1791.1221.010.4930.9160.1450.1641.452
94Türkiye5.2625.3475.1781.5821.4440.6260.2440.040.1041.223
95South Africa5.2135.3395.0861.2831.4650.1420.6760.0640.0431.54
96Mozambique5.195.3765.0040.5591.1310.1240.8130.1270.1732.262
97Gabon5.125.2564.9851.3861.2240.3870.6510.0420.0861.343
98Côte d’Ivoire5.1025.2384.9671.0380.760.2060.6610.10.1622.176
99Iran5.0935.1934.9941.331.3670.6090.4560.2020.1221.007
100Congo5.035.2054.8551.0230.7960.3360.6260.0820.1262.04
101Iraq4.9765.0854.8661.2611.2750.5890.5030.10.0691.178
102Guinea4.9295.074.7870.8730.7910.3060.6760.1570.0982.027
103Namibia4.9115.0254.7971.1821.4820.1040.5640.0520.0561.47
104Cameroon4.8875.0074.7670.9440.9860.3020.6620.0990.061.834
105Nigeria4.8855.0224.7480.9891.2450.380.6390.170.0281.433
106Azerbaijan4.8754.9694.781.4281.030.7070.7850.0760.1790.67
107Senegal4.8564.9794.7320.9070.9770.4330.7670.1290.091.553
108State of Palestine4.784.8864.6751.0471.4560.6180.0550.081
109Pakistan4.7684.8924.6440.9820.7590.4170.5290.1360.0461.898
110Niger4.7254.8634.5880.6060.7960.2580.7590.1220.1372.048
111Ukraine4.684.7944.5651.3281.4720.4720.6890.2450.0230.451
112Morocco4.6224.7364.5091.1390.6350.5850.7480.0310.0951.388
113Tunisia4.5524.6334.471.2571.2240.4590.3820.0320.051.149
114Mauritania4.5424.6764.4081.0230.9190.5160.4540.1130.1951.323
115Kenya4.514.6364.3840.9941.0470.4480.6490.220.0731.079
116Uganda4.4614.5874.3360.7621.3420.3960.7510.1480.051.012
117Gambia4.4234.534.3150.7780.9580.3480.6110.2550.0451.428
118India4.3894.4574.321.1490.860.3160.9140.1410.120.889
119Chad4.3844.5154.2530.5920.9020.2420.4770.1750.1111.884
120Burkina Faso4.3834.5064.260.7240.8280.2960.6710.1420.2181.504
121Benin4.3574.4924.2220.8550.2280.3570.6790.0920.2381.909
122Somalia4.3474.494.2030.5350.8770.0460.9160.2060.1921.575
123Mali4.3454.4574.2320.7090.9080.3180.7670.0930.1141.436
124Cambodia4.3414.4464.2371.0491.2150.4810.9880.1380.0780.393
125Ghana4.344.4444.2351.0531.010.4380.7710.1390.0250.904
126Myanmar4.3214.4714.1720.9751.1440.4460.5690.3220.1630.702
127Togo4.3154.434.20.7570.7360.3780.5760.0970.1531.618
128Jordan4.314.4264.1931.1581.2020.5730.70.0510.1640.461
129Liberia4.2774.4444.1110.5820.8880.3240.6530.1430.0681.618
130Madagascar4.1574.2654.050.5880.9380.3410.2920.1310.1181.751
131Zambia3.9124.0563.7690.8481.0130.2330.8720.1310.1070.709
132Ethiopia3.8984.0113.7860.7571.0510.4160.540.1820.10.852
133Sri Lanka3.8914.0013.781.2711.3080.5670.6960.1210.025-0.099
134Bangladesh3.8513.9493.7531.1160.2860.5920.920.110.1320.695
135Egypt3.8173.9093.7251.3471.0750.4730.5930.0180.1030.21
136Tanzania3.83.9383.6610.8470.9080.4110.8580.1530.2430.38
137Eswatini3.7743.8933.6541.1831.1520.0380.4280.0540.130.79
138Lesotho3.7573.9573.5580.7371.13100.6060.0650.0721.145
139Comoros3.7543.9193.590.8350.5010.4280.260.1170.1641.45
140Yemen3.5613.7143.4080.6311.4820.3750.4470.0660.1060.454
141DR Congo3.4693.6083.3310.5440.9290.2780.60.1510.0610.906
142Botswana3.4383.5763.3011.3881.1460.0940.6970.0180.0830.012
143Zimbabwe3.3963.5093.2830.8270.9610.1780.5980.0650.1310.636
144Malawi3.263.393.130.5880.4890.280.6770.1150.1360.975
145Lebanon3.1883.2773.0981.2230.9840.440.2790.0710.0410.15
146Sierra Leone2.9983.1022.8940.7860.6920.3270.6130.1380.0520.391
147Afghanistan1.3641.4271.3010.64900.15500.0750.1350.348
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