The US fell to its lowest-ever rating within the 2025 version of the World Happiness Report amid rising social isolation and political polarisation, whereas Finland and different Nordic international locations remained on the high of the index.
Revealed on Thursday by the Wellbeing Analysis Centre on the College of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Growth Options Community, the report evaluates varied elements, together with well being, wealth, freedom, generosity, and freedom from corruption, to measure general happiness throughout societies based mostly on self-reported assessments from 147 international locations.
Finland continued within the high spot this 12 months, adopted by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.
On the backside of the index, Afghanistan ranked the bottom, adopted by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Comoros and Lesotho.
America ranked twenty fourth, one spot decrease than final 12 months, persevering with its downward trajectory from a excessive of eleventh place in 2012, when the survey started.
The report highlighted rising unhappiness within the US, noting an growing desire for consuming alone.
“In 2023, roughly one in 4 People reported consuming all of their meals alone the day prior to this – a rise of 53 % since 2003,” the report said.
“Eating alone has change into extra prevalent throughout all age teams, however particularly amongst younger folks.”
The report additionally pointed to an increase in “deaths of despair” within the US, which contradicts a world downward pattern. Since 2000, such deaths have declined by 75 % throughout 59 international locations, although they continue to be excessive in nations like South Korea and Slovenia.
Researchers steered that rising unhappiness could contribute to rising political polarisation – a pattern additionally noticed in Europe.
“The decline in life satisfaction explains the general rise in anti-system votes, however belief in others then comes into play. Amongst sad people drawn to the extremes of the political spectrum, these with low belief are extra usually discovered on the far proper, whereas high-trust people are extra inclined to vote for the far left,” the report famous.
The sense of social isolation within the US contrasts with international locations like Mexico, which broke into the listing of high 10 happiest international locations this 12 months. Based on the report, elements comparable to repeatedly sharing meals and dwelling in bigger households contribute to wellbeing.
“Sharing meals has a powerful impression on subjective well-being – on par with the affect of revenue and unemployment,” the World Happiness Report said. “That is true throughout ages, genders, international locations, cultures, and areas.”
Bigger households additionally “supply a possible benefit in fostering optimistic social interactions”, which can clarify why Mexico and Costa Rica – ranked sixth this 12 months – rating as extremely as many European international locations regardless of having decrease general wealth, in line with the report.
“Latin American societies, characterised by bigger family sizes and powerful household bonds, supply beneficial classes for different nations looking for greater and extra sustainable wellbeing,” the report added.
One other key discovering was the robust correlation between happiness and the idea that somebody would return a misplaced pockets. Whereas seemingly a small act, Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, emphasised that it displays deeper societal forces.
“Happiness isn’t nearly wealth or financial progress – it’s about belief, connection, and understanding folks have your again,” he stated within the report. “If we would like stronger communities and economies, we should put money into what really issues: one another.”
Social cohesion and a strong social security web had been widespread traits of the highest-ranking international locations.
