In looking at the world’s 25 most content nations, happiness may be more than just a state of mind. The world’s happiest countries are likely to be more affluent, and citizens have greater personal freedom to make life choices, have a strong support network, and have a relatively long healthy life expectancy.
Western European and North American countries tend to have the happiest populations, while residents of countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East are most likely to be unhappy.
To identify the happiest countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed The World Happiness Report 2018 produced by the UN-initiative Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Researchers used a range of survey data from the 2015-2017 Gallup World Poll to rank happiness levels in 156 countries. Healthy life expectancy data for each country were obtained from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Click here to see the happiest countries in the world.
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Click here to see our detailed findings.
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25. Chile
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 73.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 84.9%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 83.5%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 69.4 years
Chile rounds out the list of the world’s happiest countries. Known for their warmth, you can expect a peck on the cheek from a Chilean in greeting — it’s ritual. One of the reasons Chile ranks so highly is Chileans’ desire to be around their extended family and make frequent, almost daily, visits with close friends. They say that good friends and loving relationships keep the brain strong.
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24. Mexico
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 77.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 81.7%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 77.2%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 67.9 years
Mexico’s official name is The United Mexican States. And united it stands. Familial bonds are one of the reasons the country is high up in this year’s rankings. For Mexicans, family satisfaction is key. So much so, that there is a direct correlation between familial bonds to the achievements individuals reach in life.
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23. France
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 81.2%
> Residents who say they have social support: 90.5%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 62.2%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.6 years
France jumped to 23 from 31 between 2017 and 2018 in happiness. The world’s most visited country is not typically associated with being the most welcoming. Perhaps that’s changing. The French already know that living life at a slower pace is the way to go. It seems their “joie de vivre” outlook, or “joy of life,” is rubbing off on them. Très bien!
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22. Malta
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 91.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 92.9%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 68.4%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.8 years
Who wouldn’t be happy living in an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea just south of Sicily? With a population of just under 450,000, the country is one of the top gainers in its citizens’ happiness levels. Could that be attributable to President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, elected in 2014, and met with unanimous approval by parliament?
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21. Czech Republic
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 83.1%
> Residents who say they have social support: 91.4%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 88.5%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 70.9 years
This little landlocked country in Central Europe consumes the highest amount of beer per capita in the world. Since beer is a social lubricant, maybe that’s why the Czechs are a happier lot — with increasing levels of happiness. For all of the beer aficionados, Pilsner Urquell, the first pilsner type beer ever made, is still brewed in the Czech Republic.
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20. United Arab Emirates
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 93.8%
> Residents who say they have social support: 83.5%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: N/A
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 68.4 years
The UAE is the only country in the Arab world to place in the top 25 list. For one thing, the UAE is the most tolerant of countries in this region. Residents have gone on record to say that safety and security make them happy. But, it’s clear that the open door policy for international migration is a main factor. Locals and expats alike agree.
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19. United Kingdom
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 82.2%
> Residents who say they have social support: 94.3%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 44.4%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.8 years
After jumping from 23rd place in 2016 to 19th in 2017, the UK remains in this slot this year. Perhaps the rankings were before the happy nuptials of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle (or Manchester City winning the Premier League). Though often characterized as cold, the British actually have some of the strongest social supports that likely contribute greatly to their happiness.
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18. United States
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 83.5%
> Residents who say they have social support: 90.6%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 70.0%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 69.8 years
The good news is, the U.S. remains in the top 25 happiest countries, though it’s tumbled in ranking in the last two consecutive lists. Collectively, the U.S. tends to score highly in the wellness category, which includes physical, emotional, financial, community, and social well-being.
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17. Luxembourg
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 90.6%
> Residents who say they have social support: 92.7%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 35.4%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years
Life for the average Luxembourger is good, suffice it to say. Officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it’s one of the smallest sovereign nations in Europe. The country enjoys a high-income market economy. It’s known for being one of the most relaxed nations. Luxembourg’s motto is “Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sinn” which stands for “We want to remain what we are.”
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16. Belgium
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 86.4%
> Residents who say they have social support: 91.2%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 50.3%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.1 years
Belgium may be a multilingual country, but more than 90% of Belgians surveyed believe they have social support. It’s often said that things happen in threes. The number is not lost on the Belgians. Belgium has three official languages. The North (Flanders) speaks Dutch, the South (Wallonia) speaks French, and a small part in the East speaks German. There are also three main sorts of Belgian waffles: Liege waffles (the most common), Brussels waffles, and galettes. Smakelijk!
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15. Germany
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 86.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 90.8%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 43.0%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.1 years
Germany boasts the world’s fourth largest economy by nominal GDP, so it’s no wonder that there are many Germans merrily going about their way. Perhaps the stereotype of always being punctual and requiring order has its merits as corruption is one of the lowest — contributing to residents’ overall well-being.
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14. Ireland
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 89.1%
> Residents who say they have social support: 95.2%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 38.2%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years
There’s something magical about this little lush green island sitting in the North Atlantic. As the old adage goes, “It’s the little things that make a big difference.” Some Irish have gone on record to say having access to good public services, a clean and safe environment, and having the time to enjoy life account for their happiness. Only about 38% of those polled believe corruption in government is a problem. That’s grand.
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13. Costa Rica
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 90.5%
> Residents who say they have social support: 90.2%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 76.1%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 69.7 years
“Ticos,” as Costa Ricans refer to themselves, take pride in knowing the world looks up to their country as one of the happiest on the planet. Why? For one, its inhabitants enjoy a slower pace of life in a tropical paradise setting. Less stress and lots of sunshine – yes please. And in a region known for instability, Costa Rica abolished its army as far back as 1949.
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12. Austria
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 89.3%
> Residents who say they have social support: 92.0%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 53.3%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.0 years
Austrians don’t stress over owning their own cars, preferring buses and trains. They also devote Sundays to being with family and sitting down altogether for dinner. Vienna has been the capital city for over a thousand years. Developing its own regional food, Viennese cuisine is unique for being the only type of cooking named after a city. Bring on the Wiener schnitzel!
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11. Israel
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 76.5%
> Residents who say they have social support: 89.1%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 79.6%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.0 years
There’s something to be said about resilience in the face of adversity. Israel has been in conflict with its neighbors since it came into being in 1948. s establishment.While the mandatory military service for both men and women does not necessarily improve the well-being of those serving, it does teach some wonderful transferable skills. This is manifesting itself in entrepreneurship. Israel is a magnet for venture capital from all over the world. Creativity and tech abound.
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10. Australia
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 91.8%
> Residents who say they have social support: 94.8%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 38.9%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.7 years
Australia is the only continent covered by a single country. Though its roots are as a penal colony, the country today is one of the least corrupt in the world. Yet, it holds a whopping 28% of foreign-born residents. It’s been said that four out of five Aussies live less than 31 miles from the coastline.
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9. Sweden
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 92.9%
> Residents who say they have social support: 91.9%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 23.9%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.7 years
With roughly 10 million Swedes living in 174 million square miles, there’s a lot to be happy about. All of that nature — forests, lakes, and mountains — where Swedes can hike, bike, fish, camp, swim, and sail at their leisure. And with Sweden’s unique Allemansrätt or The Right of Public Access, any citizen or tourist has the government-given right to roam freely in land that is not private.
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8. New Zealand
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 93.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 96.0%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 22.9%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years
New Zealand is an island country situated in the Pacific Ocean. Because of its remote location, it’s one of the last places on Earth to be settled by humans. New Zealand ranks second on Gallup’s Migrant Acceptance Index for most-accepting countries. Polynesians who settled there in the 14th century named it the land of the long white cloud.
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7. Canada
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 92.4%
> Residents who say they have social support: 93.2%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 41.0%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years
Canada has demonstrated to the world that there’s plenty of room at the table. At a time of anti-immigrant sentiment, the country has embraced foreigners — many of them refugees — taking a decidedly tolerant approach to people of other races and religion. Canada gives new meaning to the term “culturally diverse.”
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6. Netherlands
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 91.1%
> Residents who say they have social support: 91.4%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 40.3%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years
The Netherlands is sometimes referred to as Holland, but the people are always known as Dutch. About one-third of the country is below sea-level, so it’s no surprise that the country boasts an intricate water management system that keeps its inhabitants safe. And the Netherlands has exported its knowledge globally.
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5. Switzerland
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 92.9%
> Residents who say they have social support: 93.9%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 28.8%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 73.2 years
Switzerland is officially recognized as The Swiss Confederation and hosts four main languages and regions, that of German, French, Italian and the lesser-known Romansh. Neutrality comes naturally to the Swiss. All of these cultures live peaceably together within its borders. The federal government is mandated to communicate and translate in all four languages.
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4. Iceland
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 94.3%
> Residents who say they have social support: 97.7%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 69.2%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 72.8 years
Not winter’s darkness, volcanic eruptions, or difficult terrain could keep the fierce Icelandics down through the centuries. The nation had the highest score among the happiest nations in terms of residents who say they have social support. The country also tops the list on Gallup’s Migrant Acceptance Index. Not bad for its 93% Icelandic population.
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3. Denmark
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 94.9%
> Residents who say they have social support: 95.5%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 19.4%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.3 years
Why are the Danes such a happy lot? They partake in high-quality social interactions that the call hygge. It’s “intentional intimacy.” This could translate into meeting a friend for a coffee or a family gathering that boasts board games and good eats. Hygge is perceived to be the means to strengthen trust.
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2. Norway
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 95.2%
> Residents who say they have social support: 95.2%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 32.0%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.1 years
Norway’s fjords are touted as some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world. Proud Norwegians might say life is an adventure and that they live by that particular ideal daily. Yet it’s not just what nature has to offer. It’s placing that reverence onto relationships with loved ones.
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1. Finland
> Residents who say they have freedom to make life’s choices: 94.7%
> Residents who say they have social support: 95.6%
> Residents who believe corruption is widespread in their government: 22.1%
> Healthy life expectancy at birth: 71.5 years
Finland takes the lead position for the first time this year. This tiny nation of 5.5 million people is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. Perhaps it’s the long stretches of darkness that winter brings that encourage the desire for more connectedness to other people, or greater focus on personal goals. Or more swamp soccer. Whatever it is, it’s working.
Detailed Findings
It’s been said that money can’t buy happiness, but you need it to attain a basic standard of living that can serve as the foundation for well-being. Not surprisingly, the happiest countries tend to have higher incomes.
Personal freedom to make life choices can also have a profound impact on individual happiness, and the world’s happiest countries are generally home to populations with a strong sense of personal freedom. More than 90% of those surveyed in 14 of the 25 happiest countries believe they have the latitude to make life choices.
Familial bonds and friendship provide the greatest safety and comfort and are another feature of the world’s happiest countries. By all means, save for a rainy day, but spend time on cultivating lasting relationships. More than 90% of those polled in 21 of the 25 nations feel these social bonds were important.
A healthy life expectancy, measured as the number of years an individual born in a given country can expect to live a healthy life, is key. Twenty of the happiest countries have a healthy life expectancy of more than 70 years.
Another factor common to some, but not all, of these countries is the belief that there is not much corruption in government. This belief is strongest in Scandinavian countries.
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