Finland Tops World Happiness Report for Seventh Straight Year

Finland has once again secured the top spot in the World Happiness Report, marking its seventh consecutive year as the happiest country in the world, according to the 2024 report released on March 20, 2024. The report, a collaborative effort by leading well-being researchers and scientists, bases its happiness rankings on Gallup World Poll data that assesses the average life evaluation of individuals over a three-year period from 2021 to 2023.

The World Happiness Report 2024 analyzes data on six key factors - GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption - to provide insights into the subjective assessments of quality of life. Denmark and Iceland closely follow Finland in the rankings, solidifying the Nordic nations' reputation for exceptional living standards and overall well-being.

Singapore maintained its position as the happiest country in Asia for the second year in a row, although its global ranking slipped from 25th to 30th out of the 143 places surveyed. The city-state's high GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, and perceived low corruption contribute to its happiness score. However, Singapore falls short in perceived social support, freedom to make life choices, and generosity compared to other leading nations.

Why this matters: The World Happiness Report serves as a vital benchmark for assessing the well-being of nations and identifying factors that contribute to a high quality of life. As governments and policymakers increasingly recognize the importance of happiness and life satisfaction in shaping public policy, the report's findings can guide efforts to improve citizens' overall well-being and create more inclusive and thriving societies.

The report also highlights variations in happiness across different age groups in Singapore, with the 45-59 age group reporting the highest happiness and those over 60 scoring the lowest. Taiwan follows closely behind Singapore as the second-happiest nation in Asia, while Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines round out the top five in the region.

In contrast, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are among the unhappiest countries in Asia, with India, the world's most populous nation, ranking 126th out of the 143 countries surveyed. The report mentions Bhutan, a landlocked country in South Asia, for its explicit use of the principles of Gross National Happiness in its efforts to avoid even a single COVID-19 death in 2020.

Finland's consistent top ranking in the World Happiness Report cements its position as one of the most desirable nations to live in globally. "The Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, consistently perform at the top of the global rankings, offering exceptional living standards, robust healthcare systems, and strong social safety nets," the report states. Other countries recognized for their high quality of life include Canada, Australia, and several European nations like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland.

Key Takeaways

• Finland tops World Happiness Report 2024 for 7th consecutive year.
• Nordic nations dominate top spots, known for high living standards.
• Singapore remains happiest in Asia, but slips in global ranking.
• Bhutan's Gross National Happiness policy helped avoid COVID-19 deaths.
• India, Myanmar among unhappiest countries in Asia per the report.