Feeling bummed? You’re not alone, as the U.S. drops to a record low in the World Happiness Index
Despite sharing a border with Russia and receiving limited winter sunlight, Finland is the world’s happiest country. But Americans are unhappier than ever.
Comparison may be the thief of joy, but not if you’re from Finland.
Despite sharing a border with an at-war Russia and receiving limited winter sunlight, the Nordic nation has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the eighth year in a row. Americans, meanwhile, seem to get more unhappy with each passing year.
That’s according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, published Thursday, which ranks over 140 countries and regions based on residents’ self-assessments. The survey was conducted by the University of Oxford in partnership with analytics firm Gallup and the United Nations.
In the rankings of happiness haves and have-nots, the U.S. dropped to its lowest ever spot at No. 24, continuing its decline from a peak of the 11th place over a decade ago. The report described political polarization as a result of growing despair among Americans.
“The decline in life satisfaction explains the overall rise in anti-system votes but trust in others then comes into play,” the report said, with “unhappy people attracted by the extremes of the political spectrum.”
Rating: 5