Top 20 Happiest Countries in the World in 2024
In a world where happiness is increasingly valued as a measure of societal well-being, understanding the factors contributing to individual and collective happiness has become a topic of significant interest. From Finland’s serene landscapes to the Netherlands’ cultural richness, the pursuit of happiness transcends borders and cultures. Exploring the happiest countries in the world offers insights into the social, economic, and environmental conditions that foster well-being and contentment among their populations.
Finland has scored the highest with the first rank among 143 countries. And holding the same position on the list for seven consecutive years. The top 10 countries have remained much the same since before Covid-19. Join us on a journey through the realms of joy and positivity as we delve into what makes these nations shine brightly on the global happiness stage.
Top 20 Happiest Countries in the World in 2024
According to the World Happiness Report, here is the list of the top 20 happiest countries in the world in 2024.
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 7.741 |
| 2 | Denmark | 7.583 |
| 3 | Iceland | 7.525 |
| 4 | Sweden | 7.344 |
| 5 | Israel | 7.341 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 7.319 |
| 7 | Norway | 7.302 |
| 8 | Luxembourg | 7.122 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 7.060 |
| 10 | Australia | 7.057 |
| 11 | New Zealand | 7.029 |
| 12 | Costa Rica | 6.955 |
| 13 | Kuwait | 6.951 |
| 14 | Austria | 6.905 |
| 15 | Canada | 6.900 |
| 16 | Belgium | 6.894 |
| 17 | Ireland | 6.838 |
| 18 | Czechia | 6.822 |
| 19 | Lithuania | 6.818 |
| 20 | United Kingdom | 6.749 |
The biggest change this year is within the top 20. There are two new entrants, Costa Rica and Kuwait at 12 and 13. Coupled with the continuing convergence between the two halves of Europe, with Czechia, Lithuania, and Slovenia at positions 18, 19, and 21, have contributed to the fall of the United States and Germany from 15 and 16 last year to 23 and 24 this year.
According to the World Happiness Report, scores are based on individuals’ own assessments of their lives, in particular their answers to the single-item Cantril ladder life-evaluation question.
The report also considers the following six variables in the 143 countries ranked in the report:
- GDP per capita
- Social Support
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom
- Generosity
- Freedom of corruption