Finland Ranked ‘The Happiest Country In The World’ For Ninth Year In A Row

Feeling blue? Try traveling to the happiest countries in the world!

According to the most recent edition of the World Happiness Report, Finland, Iceland and Denmark took the top three spots.

For the 9th consecutive year, Finland was recognized as the happiest country in the world. Iceland and Denmark took second and third places, respectively. The Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford compiled the data and included it in the yearly report on global happiness.

Costa Rica came in at 4th place, which is the highest ranking for a Latin American Country. The list then returns to Nordic countries. Sweden and Norway are taking 5th and 6th places. Other European countries appeared on the list—the Netherlands at 7th, Luxembourg at 9th and Switzerland at 10th.

This year, the United States ranked 23rd. Canada was placed 25th, and the UK was at 20th. This is the second year in a row in which native English-speaking countries—the US, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the UK—do not appear in the top 10.

The Gallup World Poll survey participants from 147 countries to determine each country’s ranking. Each participant is asked to rate their life on a ladder, with their best possible life as a 10 and their worst as a 0. This ladder is referred to as the Cantril Ladder.

Researchers take into account various factors, such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity, ideas of freedom and corruption. The data are based on a three-year average, in which Finland had an average happiness score of 7.764.

John F. Helliwell, professor emeritus of economics and an editor of the World Happiness Report, said that Finland’s strong cooperation values contributed to its especially high ranking.

“Successful societies cooperate in the face of adversity. 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.”

“Everyone loves to live where they expect to have their wallet returned full.”

“The world is full of kind strangers. If you know that, it affects you in every way.”