Finland has been named the happiest country in the world again in 2026. This is the ninth year in a row that Finland has ranked number one.
The rankings come from the World Happiness Report, prepared by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, together with partners including the United Nations and Gallup.
Top 10 happiest countries
Out of 147 countries, these are the top 10 in 2026:
- Finland
- Iceland
- Denmark
- Costa Rica
- Sweden
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
How do researchers measure happiness
Researchers use data from the Gallup World Poll. Around 1,000 people in each country are asked to rate their lives.
They imagine a ladder from 0 to 10.
0 means the worst possible life and 10 means the best possible life.
People choose where they think they stand. These scores are averaged to rank countries.
Did You Know?
The report is partly based on an idea from the Greek thinker Aristotle, who lived over 2,000 years ago. He believed happiness is about living a good and meaningful life.
What makes countries happier
The report links happiness to several measurable factors:
- Income per person
- Life expectancy
- Social support (having someone to rely on)
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Low corruption
These factors help explain why some countries score higher than others.
What about young people
The report also looks at people under 25 across 136 countries.
In 85 countries, young people are happier now than they were 20 years ago.
However, happiness among young people has fallen in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The UK has also seen a smaller decline.
Researchers also studied social media use. They found that internet access can have positive effects. But in some English-speaking countries, higher social media use is linked with lower happiness among young people. This is a link, but not a proven cause.
Social media and happiness
This comes ahead of the internationally marked International Day of Happiness on March 20th, which highlights the importance of well-being and quality of life around the world. This year’s focus looks at how digital platforms shape well-being, recognising their impact on mental health while encouraging more mindful use of technology to support connection, kindness, and positive everyday experiences.
Photo: Nothern lights can be seen in Finland, Photo Credits: Getty Images
