Happiest Countries in the World 2022

Happiest Countries in the World 2022

 

 

Since 2002, the World Happiness Report has used statistical analysis to determine the world's happiest countries. In its 2021 update, the report concluded that Finland is the happiest country in the world. To determine the world's happiest country, researchers analyzed comprehensive Gallup polling data from 149 countries for the past three years, specifically monitoring performance in six particular categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make your own life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels.

In order to properly compare each country's data, the researchers created a fictional country—christened Dystopia—filled with "the world's least-happy people." They then set Dystopia as the rock bottom value in each of the six categories and measured the scores of the real-world countries against this value. All six variables were then blended to create a single combined score for each country. Interestingly enough, the top seven happiest countries in the world for 2021 were all Northern European countries. Finland took top honors—for the fourth year in a row—with an overall score of 7.842, followed (in order) by Denmark (7.620), Switzerland (7.571), Iceland (7.554), the Netherlands (7.464), Norway (7.392), and Sweden (7.363).

 

The least happy country in the world for 2021 was Afghanistan, whose 149th-place ranking of 2.523 can be attributed in part to a low life expectancy rate and low gross domestic product rates per capita. It's worthwhile to note that the report was released before the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, which will undoubtedly impact future scores in one way or another. Rounding out the bottom five are Zimbabwe (3.145), Rwanda (3.415), Botswana (3.467), and Lesotho (3.512). For the full list of all 149 countries and their rankings, scroll down to the table below. For more on the top seven—as well as an inspiring honorable mention—read on.

The Top 7 Happiest Countries in the World (plus an inspiring honorable mention) for 2021:

Finland

Finland ranks as the world's happiest country based on the 2021 report, with a score of 7.842 out of a total possible score of 10. The report writers credited the citizens of Finland's strong feelings of communal support and mutual trust with not only helping secure the #1 ranking, but (more importantly) helping the country as a whole navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Finlanders felt strongly that they were free to make their own choices, and showed minimal suspicion of government corruption. Both of these factors are strong contributors to overall happiness.

Denmark

The second-happiest country in the world is Denmark, which scores 7.620. Denmark's values for each of the six variables are quite comparable to those of Finland. In fact, Denmark even outscored the leader in multiple categories, including GDP per capita, generosity, and perceived lack of corruption, demonstrating that it may claim the top spot sometime in the near future.

Switzerland

As the third-happiest country in the world, Switzerland scored a total of 7.571 out of 10. In general, the Swiss are very healthy, with one of the world's lowest obesity rates and a long life expectancy. The Swiss also have a very high median salary, about 75% higher than that of the United States, and the highest GDP per capita in the top seven. Additionally, there is a strong sense of community in Switzerland and a firm belief that it is a safe and clean country—which is statistically true. Along with Iceland and Denmark, Switzerland is one of the world's safest countries.

Iceland

Iceland ranks as 2021's fourth-happiest country in the entire world, with a total score of 7.554. Of the top seven happiest countries around the globe, Iceland has the highest feeling of social support (higher even than Finland, Norway, and Denmark, which all tied for second place). Iceland also had the second-highest generosity score in the top seven, though it's worth noting that it ranked only 11th worldwide.

Netherlands

Edging out Norway for the honor of fifth-happiest country in the world is the Netherlands (also known as Holland to many tulip lovers), with a score of 7.464. The Netherlands scored higher in the generosity category than any other top-seven country and also displayed an impressive lack of perceived corruption.

Norway

The citizens of sixth-place Norway (7.392) feel they are being well cared for by their government thanks to universal healthcare and free college tuition. Norwegians also enjoy a healthy work-life balance, working an average of 38 hours per week vs. 41.5. hours per week in the United States. Additionally, Norway has a low crime rate and a strong sense of community among its citizens—a quality it shares with many of the top seven.

Sweden

Seventh-place Sweden (7.363) ranks high, if not quite highest, in virtually every category measured. For example: Sweden has a higher lack of corruption score than all but four countries worldwide (two of which are Finland and Denmark), the fourteenth-highest GDP per capita of all 149 countries measured, and the fourth-highest life expectancy in the top seven.

Honorable Mention: Bhutan

Bhutan was excluded from the 2021 report due to a technicality: Each country's scores are based upon detailed Gallup polls, but Gallup did not conduct polling in Bhutan during the required timeframe. However, the report's writers made a special effort to pay tribute to Bhutan, saying it "once again provided an inspiring example for the world about how to combine health and happiness. They made explicit use of the principles of Gross National Happiness in mobilizing the whole population in collaborative efforts to avoid even a single COVID-19 death in 2020, despite having strong international travel links." Impressive indeed. If Gallup begins polling in Bhutan, Northern Europe's hold on happiness may soon have competition.

RankCountryHappiness 2021 Happiness 20202022 Population

1	Finland	7.842	7.809	5,554,960
2	Denmark	7.62	7.646	5,834,950
3	Switzerland	7.571	7.56	8,773,637
4	Iceland	7.554	7.504	345,393
5	Netherlands	7.464	7.449	17,211,447
6	Norway	7.392	7.488	5,511,370
7	Sweden	7.363	7.353	10,218,971
8	Luxembourg	7.324	7.238	642,371
9	New Zealand	7.277	7.3	4,898,203
10	Austria	7.268	7.294	9,066,710
11	Australia	7.183	7.223	26,068,792
12	Israel	7.157	7.129	8,922,892
13	Germany	7.155	7.076	83,883,596
14	Canada	7.103	7.232	38,388,419
15	Ireland	7.085	7.129	5,020,199
16	Costa Rica	7.069	7.121	5,182,354
17	United Kingdom	7.064	7.165	68,497,907
18	Czech Republic	6.965	6.911	10,736,784
19	United States	6.951	6.94	334,805,269
20	Belgium	6.834	6.864	11,668,278
21	France	6.69	6.664	65,584,518
22	Bahrain	6.647	6.227	1,783,983
23	Malta	6.602	6.773	444,033
24	Taiwan	6.584	6.455	23,888,595
25	United Arab Emirates	6.561	6.791	10,081,785
26	Saudi Arabia	6.494	6.406	35,844,909
27	Spain	6.491	6.401	46,719,142
28	Italy	6.483	6.387	60,262,770
29	Slovenia	6.461	6.363	2,078,034
30	Guatemala	6.435	6.399	18,584,039
31	Uruguay	6.431	6.44	3,496,016
32	Singapore	6.377	6.377	5,943,546
33	Slovakia	6.331	6.281	5,460,193
34	Brazil	6.33	6.376	215,353,593
35	Mexico	6.317	6.465	131,562,772
36	Jamaica	6.309	5.89	2,985,094
37	Lithuania	6.255	6.215	2,661,708
38	Cyprus	6.223	6.159	1,223,387
39	Estonia	6.189	6.022	1,321,910
40	Panama	6.18	6.305	4,446,964
41	Uzbekistan	6.179	6.258	34,382,084
42	Chile	6.172	6.228	19,250,195
43	Poland	6.166	6.186	37,739,785
44	Kazakhstan	6.152	6.058	19,205,043
45	Romania	6.14	6.124	19,031,335
46	Kuwait	6.106	6.102	4,380,326
47	Serbia	6.078	5.778	8,653,016
48	El Salvador	6.061	6.348	6,550,389
49	Mauritius	6.049	6.101	1,274,727
50	Latvia	6.032	5.95	1,848,837
51	Colombia	6.012	6.163	51,512,762
52	Hungary	5.992	6	9,606,259
53	Thailand	5.985	5.999	70,078,203
54	Nicaragua	5.972	6.137	6,779,100
55	Japan	5.94	5.871	125,584,838
57	Portugal	5.929	5.911	10,140,570
56	Argentina	5.929	5.975	46,010,234
58	Honduras	5.919	5.953	10,221,247
59	Croatia	5.882	5.505	4,059,286
60	Philippines	5.88	6.006	112,508,994
61	South Korea	5.845	5.872	51,329,899
62	Peru	5.84	5.797	33,684,208
63	Bosnia And Herzegovina	5.813	5.674	3,249,317
64	Moldova	5.766	5.608	4,013,171
65	Ecuador	5.764	5.925	18,113,361
66	Kyrgyzstan	5.744	5.542	6,728,271
67	Greece	5.723	5.515	10,316,637
68	Bolivia	5.716	5.747	11,992,656
69	Mongolia	5.677	5.456	3,378,078
70	Paraguay	5.653	5.692	7,305,843
71	Montenegro	5.581	5.546	627,950
72	Dominican Republic	5.545	5.689	11,056,370
73	Belarus	5.534	5.54	9,432,800
75	Hong Kong	5.477	5.51	7,604,299
74	Russia	5.477	5.546	145,805,947
76	Tajikistan	5.466	5.556	9,957,464
77	Vietnam	5.411	5.353	98,953,541
78	Libya	5.41	5.489	7,040,745
79	Malaysia	5.384	5.384	33,181,072
80	Indonesia	5.345	5.286	279,134,505
81	Republic of the Congo	5.342	5.194	5,797,805
82	China	5.339	5.124	1,448,471,400
83	Ivory Coast	5.306	5.233	27,742,298
84	Armenia	5.283	4.677	2,971,966
85	Nepal	5.269	5.137	30,225,582
86	Bulgaria	5.266	5.102	6,844,597
87	Maldives	5.198	5.198	540,985
88	Azerbaijan	5.171	5.165	10,300,205
89	Cameroon	5.142	5.085	27,911,548
90	Senegal	5.132	4.981	17,653,671
91	Albania	5.117	4.883	2,866,374
92	North Macedonia	5.101	5.16	2,081,304
93	Ghana	5.088	5.148	32,395,450
94	Niger	5.074	4.91	26,083,660
95	Turkmenistan	5.066	5.119	6,201,943
96	Gambia	5.051	4.751	2,558,482
97	Benin	5.045	5.216	12,784,726
98	Laos	5.03	4.889	7,481,023
99	Bangladesh	5.025	4.833	167,885,689
100	Guinea	4.984	4.949	13,865,691
101	South Africa	4.956	4.814	60,756,135
102	Turkey	4.948	5.132	85,561,976
103	Pakistan	4.934	5.693	229,488,994
104	Morocco	4.918	5.095	37,772,756
105	Venezuela	4.892	5.053	29,266,991
106	Georgia	4.891	4.673	3,968,738
107	Algeria	4.887	5.005	45,350,148
108	Ukraine	4.875	4.561	43,192,122
109	Iraq	4.854	4.785	42,164,965
110	Gabon	4.852	4.829	2,331,533
111	Burkina Faso	4.834	4.769	22,102,838
112	Cambodia	4.83	4.848	17,168,639
113	Mozambique	4.794	4.624	33,089,461
114	Nigeria	4.759	4.724	216,746,934
115	Mali	4.723	4.729	21,473,764
116	Iran	4.721	4.672	86,022,837
117	Uganda	4.636	4.432	48,432,863
118	Liberia	4.625	4.558	5,305,117
119	Kenya	4.607	4.583	56,215,221
120	Tunisia	4.596	4.392	12,046,656
121	Lebanon	4.584	4.772	6,684,849
122	Namibia	4.574	4.571	2,633,874
123	Myanmar	4.426	4.308	55,227,143
124	Jordan	4.395	4.633	10,300,869
125	Chad	4.355	4.423	17,413,580
126	Sri Lanka	4.325	4.327	21,575,842
127	Eswatini	4.308	4.308	1,184,817
128	Comoros	4.289	4.289	907,419
129	Egypt	4.283	4.151	106,156,692
130	Ethiopia	4.275	4.186	120,812,698
131	Mauritania	4.227	4.375	4,901,981
132	Madagascar	4.208	4.166	29,178,077
133	Togo	4.107	4.187	8,680,837
134	Zambia	4.073	3.759	19,470,234
135	Sierra Leone	3.849	3.926	8,306,436
136	India	3.819	3.573	1,406,631,776
137	Burundi	3.775	3.775	12,624,840
138	Yemen	3.658	3.527	31,154,867
139	Tanzania	3.623	3.476	63,298,550
140	Haiti	3.615	3.721	11,680,283
141	Malawi	3.6	3.538	20,180,839
142	Lesotho	3.512	3.653	2,175,699
143	Botswana	3.467	3.479	2,441,162
144	Rwanda	3.415	3.312	13,600,464
145	Zimbabwe	3.145	3.299	15,331,428
146	Afghanistan	2.523	2.567	40,754,388