Greece has dropped 17 places in the newly released World Happiness Report, now ranking 81st out of more than 140 countries, according to cnn.com. The report, published on Thursday to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness, highlights a concerning decline in Greece’s overall life evaluations. Cyprus, by comparison, holds the 67th spot.
Finland remains the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, topping the list with an average life evaluation score of 7.736 out of 10. Meanwhile, the United States has fallen to its lowest position ever—24th—reflecting broader declines in happiness and social trust across parts of Europe and America.
The World Happiness Report draws on Gallup World Poll data from 2022 to 2024 and assesses six key factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Conducted in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the report captures how people evaluate their lives as a whole.
Despite the sobering statistics, John Helliwell, founding editor of the report, offers a hopeful message: “People’s fellow citizens are better than they think they are, and to realize that will make you happier, of course, but it’ll also change the way you think about your neighbors.” Helliwell adds, “There’s room for improvement in believing that we’re all part of a larger group that looks out for each other.”
World’s 20 happiest countries in 2025
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Austria
- Canada
- Slovenia
- Czech Republic
Source: cnn.com
