Finland has been crowned the world’s happiest country for the seventh consecutive year – find out why on a unique urban happiness expedition taking place in Helsinki this summer. Olivia Palamountain reports
For an impressive seventh consecutive year, Finland has been crowned the world’s happiest country in the United Nations’ annual World Happiness Report.
The Nordic nation has held the top ranking since 2018, with its residents crediting their unique lifestyle and deep connection to nature as the keys to sustained happiness.
“Finnish happiness is not a state secret or great mystery, but instead a learnable set of skills and lifehacks,” says Heli Jimenez, senior director of international marketing at Business Finland. “From a walk in the forest, to a dip in the sea after sauna, to meals made from freshly foraged local ingredients – these are the simple daily practices behind our special brand of happiness.”
The Happiness Hackers include a 70-year-old skateboarding and swimming enthusiast, a renowned sustainable chef, a wellbeing expert, a designer showcasing Helsinki’s nature integration, and even one of Finland’s top electronic DJs spinning at a “sauna rave” event.
The free-of-charge experiences aim to reveal both the simplicity and sustainability underlying Finland’s protracted satisfaction.
In Britain, those in old age are the happiest, while the young and those in lower-middle age are least happy, reports The Times.
Other countries with happier young people than the UK include Kosovo, which until 1999 was at war and is still experiencing instability; El Salvador, which has one of the world’s highest murder rates; and Nicaragua, which is considered to be sliding into dictatorship under the presidency of Daniel Ortega.
That said, the UK still ranks higher than any other country with a population over 60 million, joined only in the top 20 by Canada.
The Ten Happiest Countries 2024
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Sweden
5. Israel
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Luxembourg
9. Switzerland
10. Australia
The Ten Least Happy Countries 2024
1. Afghanistan
2. Lebanon
3. Lesotho
4. Sierra Leone
5. Congo
6. Zimbabwe
7. Botswana
8. Malawi
9. Eswatini
10. Zambia