Which Countries are the Happiest (and Least Happy?)

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In a rapidly evolving world, the pursuit of happiness remains one of humanity’s few constants. Yet capturing its essence is no simple task, as it depends on both quantifiable measures and personal perceptions—together providing a deeper understanding of societal well-being beyond mere economic figures.

This map showcases the findings from the 2025 World Happiness Report, an annual publication that measures global contentment based on life evaluations, social support, freedom of choice, GDP per capita, and additional indicators of well-being. The data is drawn from the Gallup World Poll and various supplementary sources.

Each nation’s score in the World Happiness Report reflects an average of life evaluations over a three-year span (2022–2024 for this edition), ranking countries from highest to lowest. A more detailed explanation of the report’s methodology can be found at the end of this article.

The Most and Least Happy Countries in 2025

Below, we show the full rankings from the World Happiness Report 2025, and each country’s score.

Nordic nations once again claim the top spots in global happiness rankings, with Finland holding on to first place for the eighth year running. Its score remains at 7.7, matching last year’s result.

Close behind are Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, each retaining the same positions they held in the previous report.

Australia has dropped just outside the top 10, moving from #10 to #11.

Israel has slid from #5 to #8 this year, yet continues to rank among the world’s happiest nations. Despite the ongoing Gaza war, which began in 2023 and is partly reflected in this year’s three-year average, Israel maintains a place in the top tier.

One of the most significant changes comes from Costa Rica, which rose from #12 to #6. This achievement not only marks the highest ranking ever for a Latin American nation, but also positions it as the strongest-performing non-European country in this year’s report.

Most and Least Happy Countries by Region

In this table, we show the most and least happy countries in each region.

Costa Rica, now ranked sixth, stands out as North America’s happiest country, surpassing both the U.S. and Canada. At the opposite end, the Dominican Republic (#76) ranks as the least happy in the region, likely due to persistent inequality and economic challenges.

In South America, Uruguay remains the happiest country at #28, while Venezuela (#82) retains its position as the least happy. Its ongoing economic crisis, political turmoil, and large-scale emigration have greatly diminished quality of life.

Ukraine (#111) is Europe’s lowest-ranked country, still grappling with the lingering effects of war, financial instability, and an uncertain future.

Afghanistan continues to occupy the bottom spot globally and in the Middle East. Prolonged conflict, restrictions on freedoms—especially for women—and a struggling economy have kept it the world’s least happy nation since 2020.

Taiwan emerges as East Asia’s happiest country at #27, surpassing Singapore. Bangladesh, meanwhile, ranks lowest among Asian economies at #134, weighed down by economic challenges and ongoing political instability.

Africa has the lowest average happiness scores worldwide. Within the region, Mauritius (#78) leads as the happiest country, helped by a relatively higher standard of living, while Sierra Leone remains second to last overall due to widespread poverty, political corruption, and inadequate infrastructure.

Lastly, in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand both record strong scores of 7.0, narrowly missing the global top 10. High life expectancy and robust social systems contribute to their elevated rankings.

Which Countries Saw the Greatest Change in Happiness?

Below, we show the three countries that saw the largest increases to their happiness scores from last year, and the three countries that saw the greatest decreases.

Lesotho recorded the greatest improvement among all surveyed countries, with its happiness score rising by 0.6 points (from 3.2 to 3.8). Despite this notable gain, it still ranks among the least happy nations worldwide.

Lebanon and Zambia also registered significant increases in their scores but continue to sit near the bottom of the rankings, underscoring the entrenched economic and political hurdles they face. Meanwhile, some of the world’s least happy countries saw their scores dip even further. Sierra Leone, Kuwait, and Afghanistan experienced the largest drops, each declining by 0.3 to 0.4 points.

Which Countries Moved Up the Happiness Rankings Most?

Looking at overall ranking shifts, Latin American countries led the way, indicating a renewed sense of optimism in spite of persistent economic and political challenges. Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador recorded the most substantial climbs, moving up by 17, 15, and 12 places, respectively.

Colombia advanced from #78 to #61, Mexico reached the top 10 for the first time by jumping from #25 to #10, and Ecuador rose from #74 to #62.

By contrast, the United States slipped from #23 to #24, continuing a downward trajectory that has been evident since 2016. Declining social trust and growing inequality remain key contributors to the U.S.’s gradual slide in the rankings.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To compare country happiness rankings from a different source, check out this graphic that visualizes the happiest countries among the world’s major economies, based on analysis from Ray Dalio’s Great Powers Index 2024.