Finland has once again been named the world’s happiest country, retaining the top spot for a record ninth consecutive year, according to the latest World Happiness Report compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and based on Gallup World Poll data.
Close behind is Iceland in second place, while Denmark completes an all-Nordic top three, reinforcing the region’s long-standing dominance in global happiness rankings.
The report shows that Nordic countries continue to set the benchmark for life satisfaction, with Finland scoring an average life evaluation of 7.764 on the Cantril Ladder scale.
Beyond the podium, Costa Rica delivered a historic performance, finishing fourth — its highest position ever and the best result for any Latin American country.
The Nordic pattern resumes immediately after, with Sweden in fifth place and Norway in sixth.
In the rest of the top 10, the Netherlands ranks seventh, followed by Israel in eighth, Luxembourg in ninth, and Switzerland rounding out the top ten.
The United States placed 23rd, Canada came in 25th, while the United Kingdom ranked 29th. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year that none of the major native English-speaking countries appear in the global top 10.
To determine the rankings, researchers rely on the Gallup World Poll’s “Cantril Ladder,” which asks participants to evaluate their lives on a scale from 0 to 10.
The results are adjusted using six key variables, including GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, generosity, and perceptions of freedom and corruption.
Commenting on Finland’s consistency, John F. Helliwell, professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia and a founding editor of the report, said,“Successful societies cooperate in the face of adversity,” he said. “The Finns know this. And once you have the sense that you are in this together, there’s no end to what you can do.
He added on trust in Finnish society, “Everyone loves to live where they expect to have their wallet returned full,” he said.
The report also highlights a growing concern over declining youth happiness in several high-income countries, with rising digital and social media use cited as a contributing factor.
The World’s 10 Happiest Countries (2026)
Finland
Iceland
Denmark
Costa Rica
Sweden
Norway
Netherlands
Israel
Luxembourg
Switzerland
At the Bottom of the List
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Sierra Leone
Afghanistan
