Don’t worry, be happy! (Part Two)

After introducing the concept of happiness as presented by the World Population Review, here is the report. A pragmatic person could see it as a good indicator if looking for a better spot in which to spend the rest of their life. 

If we want the best, we need to look at Northern European countries that dominate the top of this 2025 happiness rankings, reflecting strong social support systems and high standards of living. Finland is ranked as the happiest country in the world in 2024, with Denmark and Iceland following closely behind.

The least happy country in the world for 2024 was Afghanistan, whose 143rd and last place ranking can be attributed in part to a low life expectancy rate, low gross domestic product rates per capita, and perhaps most importantly, the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Rounding out the bottom five are Lebanon, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Democratic Republic of Congo. 

If you live in another country, like me in the US, we can see how happy our countrymen are and how much room is left for progress! Happiness rankings are determined by analyzing comprehensive Gallup polling data from close to 150 countries in six particular categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make one’s own life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels. 

I don’t recommend going to Afghanistan, but Finland is okay. How’s your Finnish and have you packed up your suitcases yet?