The has been released, and once again, leads as the happiest country on Earth for the . With an , Finland continues to set the global benchmark for wellbeing.

This year’s report, published on the , reveals new insights into what truly makes people happy. While economic stability and life expectancy remain crucial, researchers found that play an even greater role in shaping global happiness.

Notably, and have broken into the , while continue to climb the rankings, showing a convergence in happiness levels across .

Meanwhile, have reported their , reflecting declining social trust and growing political polarization.

One of the most surprising findings in this year’s report is that . Research on lost wallets worldwide shows that . The countries that rank highest in happiness also have some of the , reinforcing the idea that .

The report also highlights the link between . Across all regions, , yet in the .

Despite positive findings, the report also raises concerns about in some parts of the world:

The rankings are based on of life satisfaction surveys, with researchers analyzing factors such as .

According to , director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre:

“This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trusting others are even stronger predictors of wellbeing than expected.”

The 2025 World Happiness Report is a reminder that happiness isn’t just about —it’s about social connection, trust, and kindness. While some nations struggle with growing loneliness and distrust, others prove that investing in community and generosity leads to happier and more resilient societies.

Photo Credit: Lauri Rotko, Visit Helsinki.