Finland is the world’s happiest country yet again; Ghana less happy than previous year
Finland has been ranked as the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report. The report is released annually on the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness and ranks nations based on residents’ self-assessed quality of life.
Key Findings:
– Finland maintained its top position with an average score of 7.74 out of 10.
– Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands followed Finland in the top five positions.
– Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth, respectively.
– The United States dropped to 24th place, its lowest ranking ever.
Factors Contributing to Finland’s Happiness:
– Social trust and economic equality are key factors contributing to Finland’s sustained happiness.
– A strong sense of community and simplicity also play a significant role in Finns’ contentment.
– Researchers noted that Finns are more likely to believe in the kindness of others, which boosts individual and collective well-being.
Global Trends:
– The report highlighted the strong link between social trust and happiness.
– Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica and Mexico, ranked highly in social connectedness, particularly in shared meals with family and friends.
– Ghana’s ranking in the report declined, with the country now placed 125th out of 147 nations, reflecting worsening happiness levels among Ghanaians.
Happiest Countries in Africa
On the African continent, Mauritius emerged as the happiest country, ranking 78th globally. It was followed by:
- South Africa – 95th
- Mozambique – 96th
- Gabon – 97th
- Côte d’Ivoire – 98th
- Congo – 100th
- Namibia – 103rd
- Cameroon – 104th
- Nigeria – 105th
- Senegal – 107th
- Mauritania – 114th
