Finland may be the happiest country in the world for five years in a row but the US is on the rise.
This is stated in the 10th annual World Happiness Report, published on Friday by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The US is currently ranked 16th on the list of the world’s happiest countries, behind only Ireland, Germany and Canada.
This is three positions up from last year, when the US was in 19th place. The US currently outperforms countries such as the UK, the Czech Republic, Belgium, and France on a range of measures of happiness.
The report uses data from the Gallup World Poll from 2019 to 2021 to rank 146 countries on factors such as gross domestic product per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
The researchers note that this time around, Finland doesn’t even come close to winning: its score is “significantly ahead” of any other country. Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and the Netherlands round out the top five in that order.
The report states that globally, on average, there is a long-term moderate upward trend in stress, anxiety and sadness, and a slight long-term decrease in enjoyment of life. But average life estimates, which take into account the net difference between negative and positive influences, have remained “surprisingly resilient during Covid-19.”
John Halliwell, a professor at the University of British Columbia who helped edit the report, noted a “noticeable increase worldwide” in the three acts of kindness measured by the Gallup World Poll: helping strangers, volunteering and giving. Overall, the global average of these three actions is up 25% in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic.
It is noteworthy that the data for the report was collected before the Russian attack on Ukraine. The authors say that the future prospects for global happiness will depend on the course of the Covid pandemic and the extent of military conflict.
“The pandemic has brought not only pain and suffering, but also an increase in social support and charity,” the report says. “As we battle disease and war, it’s important to remember the universal pursuit of happiness and the ability of people to come together to support each other in times of trouble.”
Verify: This country has been named the happiest country in the world for the fifth year in a row.
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