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In the latest release of the World Happiness Report, Finland continues its remarkable streak as the world’s happiest country for the seventh consecutive year, while Israel sees a slight decline in its ranking amidst ongoing regional challenges.
The findings, unveiled on Wednesday, offer insights into global well-being trends against a backdrop of geopolitical shifts and socio-economic dynamics.
Israel, a nation often contending with complex security issues, dropped one spot to fifth place in the 2024 happiness rankings, marking a shift from its fourth-place position in 2023.
This decline comes despite its highest-ever ranking in 2023 since the inception of the UN-sponsored index in 2012 when it secured the fourth position.
Notably, the data preceding the Hamas massacre of October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza informed these rankings, underscoring the potential impact of regional events on national happiness metrics.
The Nordic countries continue to dominate the top ranks of the happiness index, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden trailing Finland.
The annual report, initiated in 2012 to support the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, draws on data from Gallup and is analyzed by a global team now led by the University of Oxford.
Citizens from 143 countries and territories participate in evaluating their life satisfaction, contributing to the creation of the rankings.
Beyond self-assessed evaluations of life satisfaction, the happiness index incorporates multiple factors, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption.
Afghanistan, grappling with a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by political upheaval, remains at the bottom of the surveyed nations, highlighting the stark disparities in global well-being.
In a notable departure from previous years, the United States and Germany failed to secure positions among the top 20 happiest nations, ranking 23rd and 24th, respectively.
Conversely, Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20, emphasizing shifts in happiness dynamics across different regions.
The report’s findings underscore growing inequality in happiness outcomes, with significant disparities observed across age groups and geographic regions.
While younger generations exhibit higher levels of happiness in many parts of the world, concerns persist regarding declining well-being among youth in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Factors contributing to this trend include increased polarization, the negative impacts of social media, and economic inequality, which present formidable challenges to young people’s pursuit of happiness and fulfilment.
Happiness inequality increased across all age groups in Europe except in Central and Eastern Europe, where substantial improvements were noted.
The report’s authors highlight the widening gap in well-being among different demographic cohorts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the need for comprehensive measures to address socio-economic disparities and promote inclusive prosperity.
Jennifer De Paola, a happiness researcher at the University of Helsinki, attributes Finland’s sustained happiness to its citizens’ close connection to nature, healthy work-life balance, and robust welfare society.
She underscores the significance of trust, freedom, and social cohesion in fostering a sense of well-being among Finns, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners worldwide.
As the world navigates evolving challenges and opportunities, the World Happiness Report serves as a vital tool for understanding global happiness trends and informing evidence-based interventions to promote collective well-being and resilience in societies worldwide.
This article was created using automation and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members