World Happiness Report: Finland, Denmark, Iceland Lead Decade of Rankings
Since the World Happiness Report began in 2012, Finland has consistently held the top position, remaining first since 2018. This ranking is based on life evaluations from more than 140 nations, utilizing a scale from 0 to 10 and factoring in elements such as income, health, social support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Other leading countries include Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Australia, all recognized for their effective public services, minimal corruption, and strong social trust. Finland benefits from a robust education system and safety net, while Denmark boasts a comprehensive welfare state with high taxes and benefits, and Iceland is noted for its gender equality. Norway manages the largest sovereign wealth fund, and both New Zealand and Australia are known for their transparency and strong healthcare systems.
Key facts
- Finland has ranked first in the World Happiness Report every year since 2018.
- The World Happiness Report was first published in 2012 and averages self-reported life evaluations over three years from over 140 countries.
- The ranking uses six factors: income per person, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
- Denmark has repeatedly ranked first on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
- Iceland has ranked first on the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report for more than a decade.
- Norway's Government Pension Fund Global is the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.
- Luxembourg made public transport free nationwide in 2020, the first country to do so across an entire network.
- New Zealand became the first self-governing country to give women the vote in national elections in 1893.
Entities
Artists
- Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
- Henrik Berggren
- Lars Trägårdh
- Bruno Frey
- Alois Stutzer
- José Figueres Ferrer
- Dan Senor
- Saul Singer
- Dan Buettner
Institutions
- World Happiness Report
- Transparency International
- World Economic Forum
- UNICEF
- Government Pension Fund Global
- Roche
- Novartis
- Court of Justice of the European Union
- European Investment Bank
- European Court of Auditors
- Accident Compensation Corporation
- Department of Conservation
- Medicare
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- National Employment Standards
- Reporters Without Borders
- Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford
- Gallup
- UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
- Global Peace Index
- National Geographic
- Gallup World Poll
- European Union
- Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social
- University of Luxembourg
- Íslendingabók
- Wellbeing Research Centre
- University of Oxford
Locations
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Utrecht
- Basel
- Jura
- Zurich
- Geneva
- Bern
- Luxembourg City
- France
- Germany
- Belgium
- Auckland
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Christchurch
- U.K.
- China
- India
- Italy
- Vietnam
- North Sea
- Arctic Circle
- Costa Rica
- Israel
- United States
- Canada
- Amsterdam
- Rotterdam
- Copenhagen
- Nicoya Peninsula
- Silicon Valley
- North Atlantic
- Reykjavik
- Stockholm
- Gothenburg
- Malmö
- Groningen
- Latin America
- Europe
- English-speaking countries
- Western Europe
Sources
- Quartz —
- Quartz —
- Quartz —
- SCMP Culture —