The US fell to its lowest-ever rating within the 2025 version of the World Happiness Report amid rising social isolation and political polarisation, whereas Finland and different Nordic nations remained on the high of the index.
Printed on Thursday by the Wellbeing Analysis Centre on the College of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Growth Options Community, the report evaluates varied components, together with well being, wealth, freedom, generosity, and freedom from corruption, to measure total happiness throughout societies based mostly on self-reported assessments from 147 nations.
Finland continued within the high spot this yr, adopted by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.
On the backside of the index, Afghanistan ranked the bottom, adopted by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Comoros and Lesotho.
America ranked twenty fourth, one spot decrease than final yr, persevering with its downward trajectory from a excessive of eleventh place in 2012, when the survey started.
The report highlighted rising unhappiness within the US, noting an rising desire for consuming alone.
“In 2023, roughly one in 4 People reported consuming all of their meals alone the day before today – a rise of 53 p.c since 2003,” the report said.
“Eating alone has turn out to be extra prevalent throughout all age teams, however particularly amongst younger individuals.”
The report additionally pointed to an increase in “deaths of despair” within the US, which contradicts a world downward development. Since 2000, such deaths have declined by 75 p.c throughout 59 nations, although they continue to be excessive in nations like South Korea and Slovenia.
Researchers steered that rising unhappiness might contribute to rising political polarisation – a development additionally noticed in Europe.
“The decline in life satisfaction explains the general rise in anti-system votes, however belief in others then comes into play. Amongst sad people drawn to the extremes of the political spectrum, these with low belief are extra typically discovered on the far proper, whereas high-trust people are extra inclined to vote for the far left,” the report famous.
The sense of social isolation within the US contrasts with nations like Mexico, which broke into the record of high 10 happiest nations this yr. In line with the report, components similar to often sharing meals and residing in bigger households contribute to wellbeing.
“Sharing meals has a powerful affect on subjective well-being – on par with the affect of revenue and unemployment,” the World Happiness Report said. “That is true throughout ages, genders, nations, cultures, and areas.”
Bigger households additionally “supply a possible benefit in fostering constructive social interactions”, which can clarify why Mexico and Costa Rica – ranked sixth this yr – rating as extremely as many European nations regardless of having decrease total wealth, in keeping with the report.
“Latin American societies, characterised by bigger family sizes and powerful household bonds, supply precious classes for different nations searching for larger and extra sustainable wellbeing,” the report added.
One other key discovering was the sturdy correlation between happiness and the assumption that somebody would return a misplaced pockets. Whereas seemingly a small act, Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, emphasised that it displays deeper societal forces.
“Happiness isn’t nearly wealth or financial progress – it’s about belief, connection, and realizing individuals have your again,” he mentioned within the report. “If we wish stronger communities and economies, we should spend money on what actually issues: one another.”
Social cohesion and a strong social security web had been frequent traits of the highest-ranking nations.
