Finland again ranked happiest country in world; U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position

Not all Americans are unhappy, but certain loud sub-section certainly are! Wink

Japan at 55 is just ridiculous. Still relatively rich, safe, functional, beautiful, trains run on time, four seasons but somehow….. not happy. People will say it’s a cultural factor to downplay positive emotions here, but that’s part of the problem! Buck up Japan. Lift the energy levels.

Just checked my awesome country, while struggling with high cost of living and housing still scraped into the top ten. There’s a mindset that will keep us ever slipping the way other countries do.

And Finland, what can we say? Bravo!

Straya!

U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position

Thanks Trump!

A countries level of education, having a sense of humour, not doomer , leadership that tries to uplift , and all the other stuff in the article makes people happy.

Leadership that complains about everything, the idea that everyone is against you, the "stranger is an enemy " thinking....all this makes people unhappy .

Unsure about Japans poor rating....might be cultural..."endure " more important than enjoy .

Not all Americans are unhappy

Nothing gets past you.

The Nordic countries seem to get more things right than others.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting these countries. A lot of good-looking sorts. Maybe the bloody awful winters would be made more bearable when you look at who’ll be keeping you warm.

Could be a factor.

U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position

The survey was rigged. Elites may be involved.

The EU countries with the highest divorce rates are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg

The divorce rate in Finland has been around 50% of marriages ending in divorce.

Yeah, Finland must be a real "happy" place with so many broken families.

So many years, they pay higher taxes, without complaining! Wink.

I've never gone that far north, but they have the northern lights to entertain them at night. They make the best of what they have? any of you done a 2024 inflation study for Finland. (sorries HOW DO I DO A :) on here). they pay their taxes on time???

The EU countries with the highest divorce rates are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg

The divorce rate in Finland has been around 50% of marriages ending in divorce

Yeah, Finland must be a real "happy" place with so many broken families

Afghanistan has a very low divorce rate based on the available statistics.

Afganistan was ruined by Soviet Union, Bin Laden, US, and now by Taliban.

I know many Afghans. Very hard-working people. Any where US enters, wait for war and assassination.

evaluations averaged over 2022 to 2024.

Interesting.

Clearly, Nordic countries are very stable, prosperous and educated, which all helps on the happiness front.

Plus, as smaller tight knit countries, no insane corruption, like what's now being uncovered in US for example with DOGE. Makes those in Nordic countries more apt to trust more in their politicians and policies in general.

Why is Japan ranked so low?

America is in a dark place.

The_BeagleToday  03:13 pm JST

Why is Japan ranked so low?

Basically, Happiness is largely a strong belief or conviction in the future, good health and a safe prosperous society. That's NOT Japan unfortunately.

Thus, changes needed, as Status Quo's NOT Working

Advise starting by cleaning up Govt. Fraud, Waste & Abuse, using "DOGE" like digital audit to get Real Answers!

Advise starting by cleaning up Govt. Fraud, Waste & Abuse, using "DOGE" like digital audit to get Real Answers!

Billionaires firing people en masse won't make them happier.

I suppose people like you might glean some smug satisfaction from their suffering though.

Why is Japan ranked so low?

Many Japanese people are not happy because we work hard long hours. Work rules are strict, many powerhara cases at work. Not enough free time for holidays, travel, hobby. Everything getting more expensive too.

the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The report states that the number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53% over the past two decades.

Over past two decades this sentence says, but some people blame president Trump for this. They have obsession. I think people dining alone is increasing in many countries around the world.

Congratulations to Finland for No 1.

It has very good social system and pensions.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” - Mahatma Gandhi

WesleyToday 02:26 pm JST

The EU countries with the highest divorce rates are Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Luxembourg

The divorce rate in Finland has been around 50% of marriages ending in divorce.

Yeah, Finland must be a real "happy" place with so many broken families.

Maybe they're happy because they're out of the bad marriages...

With statues like that, I can see why they would be happy!

EsiToday 02:37 pm JST

Afganistan was ruined by Soviet Union, Bin Laden, US, and now by Taliban.

I know many Afghans. Very hard-working people. Any where US enters, wait for war and assassination.

Some countries just don't want modernity.

I’m happy, I can live in both countries, love Japan and the US, love Fukuoka and love Texas, it just all depends on what you make of life and how you see it, most Americans that live away from the West and East Coast and live more in middle America are happier overall. Been to Finland, nice country, but not for me. Each to his own.

It never was about wealth or fame it has always been about Family and Friends.

Israel!?

Sure when you get a plot of Palestinian Land to start your your family For FREE.

This is why Israel ranked #8 while the U.S. dropped to #24.

"" The United States has provisionally agreed via a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year through 2028.""

https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts

I recently finished my job teaching English in Japan to elementary school students. One of the last things I did at one of the schools was help a class with writing sentences in the form of "I want to live in (country) because (reason)."

One of my students, wrote that " I want to live in Finland" and then asked me (in Japanese) how do I write "because I can be happy" in English. Crushed me inside hearing a kid say that, that at the age of 12 they were already in search of their happiness. I dutifully gave her the correct English but man... how I wanted to explain we sometimes have to take very brave steps in life to make our own happiness. Fingers crossed she finds her happiness wherever she is in the world, Japan, Finland or who knows where.

Must say, one will never 'find' happiness, but rather it must be built brick by brick from within, based on pursuing some greater good other than pure self-interest and therefore a tangible contribution to society.

Likely the famous WISE fellow below agrees with above!

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” - Mahatma Gandhi

Hope...how come babies and children are so happy ?

Are they dreaming of building, brick by brick , from within, pursuing a greater good etc "

Or do they just enjoy ice cream ?

People surveyed for happiness are definitely not babies, so that's a whole different cohort. But I'd venture the happier the parents, the happier the baby on average, probably a solid correlation don't you think GM?!

Goes for you as well, improve your health and wellbeing and happiness will increase. Exercise more, improve your dietary customs, regular sleep, minimal alcohol, no tobacco and build your purpose = happiness path!

Hope...you have become my life coach ?

People giving me unwanted advice make me unhappy.

This then flows into the "happiness Index " for my country of birth....bringing everyone down.

Cant you see the bigger picture ?

Quite often, I was disagreeing with Hot Springs…but not recently

America is in a dark place.

I disagree, it’s not all of America, but it is a dark place in some of the largest cities, and states: NYC, California, Chicago, most of the West Coast and some states on the East Coast, progressive toxic policies have destroyed the inner cities up to the suburbs so bad that people have been fleeing to states like Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, in California’s case, you started seeing the shift around the end of 1992 and from that point on, the downfall slowly started, fast forward to 2025 and it has become unlivable.

https://youtu.be/q8SBDtkg4jI?si=KdIjHOPFmTCwzOlE

These places can come back to their once former prestige and galore they had long ago, but in order for that to happen they need to make a political and dramatic change, all of their progressive radical policies need to stop immediately then and only then can these states and cities come back otherwise, they will be lost forever without a population and those not wanting to move to the states I mentioned might contemplate moving abroad.

GuruMickToday  05:21 pm JST

Hope...you have become my life coach ?

People giving me unwanted advice make me unhappy.

This then flows into the "happiness Index " for my country of birth....bringing everyone down.

Cant you see the bigger picture ?

Why not take a view that people actually caring when you mention having health 'issues' should make you happy?

No one person can bring a country down and as to bigger pictures, without good health, not much to look at!

As usual, this is a trivial ranking. Finland's suicide rate is 13.9 according to WHO statistics, while Japan's is 12.2. (Maybe the WHO statistics are tweaked.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate

Finland's consumption of antidepressants is also unusually high. I don't know if they are really happy. Shouldn't happiness simply be determined by suicide and homicide rates?　Where violent crime is high, happiness is basically low. Curiously, this ranking does not take crime rates into account at all. It is quite a manipulated ranking.

Finland's consumption of antidepressants is also unusually high. I don't know if they are really happy. Shouldn't happiness simply be determined by suicide and homicide rates?　Where violent crime is high, happiness is basically low. Curiously, this ranking does not take crime rates into account at all. It is quite a manipulated ranking.

So basically, the high suicidal rate cancels out the overall happiness, then the ranking should be modified and lower if you adjust it to that suicide rate.

These places can come back to their once former prestige and galore they had long ago, but in order for that to happen they need to make a political and dramatic change, all of their progressive radical policies need to stop immediately then and only then can these states and cities come back otherwise, they will be lost forever without a population and those not wanting to move to the states I mentioned might contemplate moving abroad.

Ah yes, America will certainly be happier when everyone lives like in... Tennessee. 42nd in income rank, 31st in education, 21st in infrastructure, 45th in public safety, 42nd in higher education... Really the road to success there! All those conservative radical policies working very very well.

Finland. All because Santa and his raindeers live there.

Suicide (and alcohol consumption) rates very correlated with amount of sunlight, so northern countries always higher, making Nordic countries impressive indeed.

As even Hokkaido is not very far north in reality.

Ah yes, America will certainly be happier when everyone lives like in... Tennessee. 42nd in income rank, 31st in education, 21st in infrastructure, 45th in public safety, 42nd in higher education...

And you just mentioned everything that the Federal government holds sway over and that’s now for the first time changing as we speak, exactly what I am talking about. But yes, many would be and are, particularly the ones that have their kids in private schools, California was fantastic until 1992 and from that time as more progressive policies took over you started to see the decline. Even liberals are leaving their states that their policies helped to ruin them, they can’t make inroads into red states so some are packing up and leaving, so celebs have done that, I don’t criticize them, you should live where you feel comfortable and also live where the politics align with your social beliefs, and if some European countries fit that mold, then relocate there. Each to his own. If I had no choice and I had to move to Europe, the only country I would move to would be Austria, a bit more conservative and easier to live and adjust, but that would be the absolute last resort option.

Really the road to success there! All those conservative radical policies working very very well.

For us, they absolutely are.

https://www.axios.com/2023/07/05/america-new-economic-hotspots-south

bass4funkToday  04:04 pm JST

I’m happy, I can live in both countries, love Japan and the US, love Fukuoka and love Texas, it just all depends on what you make of life and how you see it, most Americans that live away from the West and East Coast and live more in middle America are happier overall. Been to Finland, nice country, but not for me. Each to his own

Ten people taking the time to down vote this very reasonable comment says a lot about “happiness” these days.

I suppose a question is why 60,000 Americans live in Japan including the ones who post daily on JT.

Just consider how many have moved out of their beloved Fukushima since 2011? Plus, many times in life $opportunity knocks, a sense of adventure calls etc.

Fukushima had a nuclear disaster. Before the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima Prefecture had a population of around 2.57 million. Since the 2011 nuclear disaster, Fukushima Prefecture's population has declined, with an estimated 110,000 fewer residents. A small number.

Maybe they're happy because they're out of the bad marriages...

Haha...this maybe true in part.

I suppose a question is why 60,000 Americans live in Japan including the ones who post daily on JT.

So what’s your point?

The divorce rate in Finland has been around 50% of marriages ending in divorce

Presumably unhappiness of a couple leads to the divorce.

When they do divorce a big possibility at least one is happy

It's absolutely no coincidence that they pay high levels of tax.

Small counties without global significance with small populations are happiest? Who would have thought...

When it comes to decreasing happiness — or growing unhappiness —the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The report states that the number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53% over the past two decades.

24th is lowest? This must mean that all those people who seem angry all the time consist of just a small part of the population

TaiwanIsNotChina

Some countries just don't want modernity.

If you're talking about America, fair enough. If you're talking about Afghanistan, try looking at images of there before the religious nutjobs took over.

https://ajammc.com/2017/09/06/weaponization-nostalgia-afghan-miniskirts/

It is all about feeling connected to each other. Family, friends, neighbors, work colleagues, acquaintances, and even strangers. After a certain level of income, money doesn't buy happiness, but not having "enough money" for the basics can be miserable.

I know family will help out if something bad happens. No doubt about that. If we lose everything, we'll be taken in by family. We'd do the same for family and they know it.

If I were to collapse while walking the dog, neighbors or strangers will step up and ensure I got help. That's also 100% certain. No doubt. I have helped complete strangers who got into trouble before a few times and know that a little inconvenience to help someone else is very rewarding, even if it is just keeping someone safe during a seizure caused by stress.

I'm less happy today in America, but that is because I'm so disappointed that so many people actually decided a convicted felon was fit to be President. Very disappointing. The fact that our stock investments are down 10% since the election doesn't help. That won't impact our lifestyle, but we won't feel nearly as lucky and grateful as we did last year (up 24%) or the year before (up nearly 20% overall). Thanks Trump for screwing our finances up - well and the same goes to Xi and Putin. Both of them seeking advantage over neighbors has led to global inflation. A huge FU for Xi and poorly handling COVID. Guess Trump deserves a big FU for that as well, since his incompetence killed 600K more Americans that was necessary.

Trump's incompetence is extending the measles issue in the US and the bird flu problem as well. Felon's living in a fantasy land make for terrible leaders.

Ten people taking the time to down vote this very reasonable comment says a lot about “happiness” these days.

The fact that been are downvoting Bass' comment is most likely in the context of his other posts on the topic, to move to poor uneducated Republican states - states that rely on federal subsidies largely paid for by California and other wealthy states, like NY, MA etc.

It's Japanese culture to downplay

So, even if your really happy the standard answer would be 悪くない。

Looks like Japan is getting better. If my memory serves me well it was around 90th place in 2004.

Congrats, Japan

KyotoTodayMar. 20  10:50 pm JST

TaiwanIsNotChina

Some countries just don't want modernity.

If you're talking about America, fair enough. If you're talking about Afghanistan, try looking at images of there before the religious nutjobs took over. 

https://ajammc.com/2017/09/06/weaponization-nostalgia-afghan-miniskirts/

Before the Soviet invasion. FTFY.

ianMar. 20  10:33 pm JST

When it comes to decreasing happiness — or growing unhappiness —the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The report states that the number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53% over the past two decades.

24th is lowest? This must mean that all those people who seem angry all the time consist of just a small part of the population

Yes, MAGAs are a small part of the population.

The suicide rate in Finland is pretty high, ranked as 146; 145 countries have a lower suicide rate so maybe Finland isn't quite as happy as advertised.

Too many questionable preconceptions to make this in any way scientific.

The UK should be lower. Not a lot of happiness around.

What is this stuff about dining alone. I like eating alone, preferably with a magazine. I find it very relaxing.

Large number of people in a home usually means 'poor'. I like my personal space.

Maybe Scandanavian people are just easily pleased. Hours of daylight! Above freezing! Yay!

blackpassengerToday  12:20 am JST

Looks like Japan is getting better. If my memory serves me well it was around 90th place in 2004.

Congrats,

It’s a joy festival!!

Oops..Man this quote thing messes me up

HopeSpringsEternal

Suicide (and alcohol consumption) rates very correlated with amount of sunlight, so northern countries always higher, making Nordic countries impressive indeed.

Very northern countries have almost no daylight in the winter, which kind of defeats your theory.

Why is Japan so low?

If you ask this question then you’ve never ridden the Yamanote line at 8am on a weekday…

Finland's consumption of antidepressants is also unusually high. I don't know if they are really happy. Shouldn't happiness simply be determined by suicide and homicide rates?

When you think about it, it makes sense. Consumption of antidepressants would increase the number of people who claim they are happy, and suicide would reduce the numbers of unhappy people.

But, I agree that these sorts of polls are really just fluff content. Happiness is entirely subjective and impossible to measure on any scale. Japan is not particularly unhappy - certainly seems less unhappy than many of the western nations ranked above it. People telling you whether they are happy or unhappy isn't a reliable indicator either. Look at all the "happy" people on Facebook whose actual lives are quite another story.

Commanteer...yes suicide WOULD reduce the number of unhappy people.

You could be on to something...

Let's see. A new Administration/Regime, high inflation, dismantling/cutting back on departments, travel bans and deportations (even some of those deportations of spouses who have LEGAL status in the US, job shortages (some of these due to the deportations of these legal status citizens, and more. I would say that the US would definitely slip in "happiness" rank in the world. I wouldn't see what there is to be happy about.

NPToday 04:29 pm JST

After 4, actually 8 years of the DEEP state and the Most Corrupt administration ( The Biden admin ) in history running the U.S. into the ground..

Were there a lot of Teslas being shown off on the WH lawn, fired Inspectors General, and in-laws being put into position of power in the Biden administration? How come Trump couldn't work his magic and get re-elected?

The only country I would move to would be Austria, a bit more conservative

Then why Japan?

Four years of open borders with no vetting of those pouring in, who are offered housing and benefits unavailable to ordinary citizens, doesn’t make a happier population? Who would have thought?

XamoToday 03:59 pm JST

who are offered housing and benefits unavailable to ordinary citizens,

Tiny amounts of money such that states still complained.

doesn’t make a happier population? Who would have thought?

Immigration only effects housing prices and that is not everything.

the survey uses soft concepts and is skewed by western ideas of what are outward displays of happiness. for example, japan is ranked low because people don’t talk to strangers, smile at strangers or look them in the eyes. haha.

we all know that it’s one of the best parts of japanese culture - the happiness that comes from being left alone and not having to celebrate and be enthralled at every person on the train.

finland has a new 300 word dictionary just for words meaning your drunk.

one of finland’s neighbors, norway, has a word meaning staying at home in your underwear getting drunk. i may apply for a visa.

and sweden has, well, swedish women.

Very much so Peter Neil.

But worse than that, the surveys used have little correlation to true measures of happiness:

https://yaschamounk.substack.com/p/the-world-happiness-report-is-a-sham

As outlined in the article, the happiness report is a MASSIVE SCAM.

It has little to do with reality. Scandinavians are FAR from happy in reality, for example, and Thailand ranks low on the happiness report, which is ABSURD

It has little to do with reality. Scandinavians are FAR from happy in reality

Oh wait! Have you read a lot about this?