The World Happiness Report 2024 analyzes the level of life satisfaction in 147 countries. The study is based on surveys in which respondents rated their lives on a 10-point scale.

LIGA.net tells who is in the top ten happiest countries, which countries are the least happy, and what place Ukraine took.

10 happiest countries according to the World Happiness Report

According to the World Happiness Report 2024, Finland tops the ranking of the world's happiest countries with a score of 7.736. The top ten also includes Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico. <#comment> pagebreak paywall

Ranking of the happiest countries in the world according to the World Happiness Report 2024

  • Finland (7.736). The leader of the ranking, known for its high level of social support, trust and security. Key economic sectors: technology, forestry, metallurgy.
  • Denmark (7.521). A country with a developed social security system and a high standard of living. Main economic sectors: pharmaceuticals, energy, maritime transportation.
  • Iceland (7.515). Known for its natural beauty and high level of social cohesion. Main economic sectors: fishing, tourism, energy.
  • Sweden (7.345). A country with high standards of living and a developed economy. Main economic sectors: machine building, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals.
  • Netherlands (7.306). Known for its liberal policies and developed infrastructure. Main economic sectors: agriculture, chemical industry, logistics.
  • Costa Rica (7.274). A country with a high level of environmental awareness and peaceful policy. Main economic sectors: tourism, agriculture, electronics.
  • Norway (7.262). A country rich in natural resources and with a high standard of living. Main economic sectors: oil and gas industry, fishing, shipbuilding.
  • Israel (7.234). A country with a developed technological industry and a high level of education. Main economic sectors: technology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture.
  • Luxembourg (7.122). One of the richest countries in the world with a developed financial sector. Main economic sectors: financial services, steel industry, telecommunications.
  • Mexico (6.979). A country with a rich culture and a growing economy. Main economic sectors: automotive industry, oil industry, tourism.

The least happy countries according to the World Happiness Report

Lebanon (3.18), Sierra Leone (2.99), and Afghanistan (1.364) occupy the last three places in the country ranking. They suffer from economic crises, wars and instability. They have low levels of social support, corrupt governments and difficult living conditions.

Ukraine's place in the World Happiness Report

Ukraine ranked 111th with a score of 4.680 (last year it was 105th). This is one of the lowest results among European countries. The main factors that negatively affect the level of happiness of Ukrainians:

  • war and instability;
  • economic difficulties;
  • problems with corruption;
  • high migration.

Nevertheless, the level of social support and help for each other in Ukraine remains high, which is a positive factor. Ukrainians also demonstrate resilience and the ability to adapt to difficult conditions.

What is a happiness rating?
Since 2012, the UN has been publishing the World Happiness Report annually, analyzing the level of life satisfaction in different countries. The study is based on surveys of residents of 147 countries who rate their lives on a scale from 1 to 10. The main factors affecting the indicators are income, social support, freedom of decision-making, corruption, life expectancy, and the level of trust in society.
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