Finland maintains its leading position in terms of global happiness, with the title solidified for the seventh consecutive year, according to a report released by the UN on Wednesday. The Nordic countries dominate the top ten places in the rankings, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden closely following Finland, while France comes in 27th.
On the other hand, Afghanistan, in the grip of a humanitarian crisis since the return of the Taliban in 2020, occupies last place among the 143 countries evaluated. For the first time in more than 10 years, the United States and Germany are not in the top 20 happiest nations, ranking 23rd and 24th, respectively. Costa Rica and Kuwait enter the top-20, positioning themselves in twelfth and thirteenth place.
None of the most populous countries in the world are among the top twenty in the ranking. According to the report, only the Netherlands and Australia in the top ten, and Canada and the United Kingdom in the top twenty, have more than 15 or 30 million inhabitants respectively.
The biggest declines in the happiness index since the period 2006-10 concern Afghanistan, Lebanon and Jordan while Serbia, Bulgaria and Latvia show the biggest increases.
What are the six key factors ?
The World Happiness Report, published annually since 2012 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is based on an assessment of individual happiness as well as economic and social data. Six key factors are taken into account: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.
According to Jennifer De Paola, a researcher specializing in the subject at the University of Helsinki, proximity to nature and a good work-life balance are crucial elements for the satisfaction of Finns. In addition, trust in institutions, low corruption and free access to healthcare and education are also determining factors for happiness in this country.
The annual report also highlights higher levels of happiness among younger generations than older ones in most regions, although exceptions exist. For example, the happiness index has declined sharply among those under 30 in North America, Australia and New Zealand since 2006-2010, and is now lower than that of older generations in these regions. On the other hand, it increased in all age groups in Eastern Europe over the same period.
The generation gap has widened everywhere in the world except Europe, which concerns the report's authors. |
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