Additional Coverage:
- The US dropped to its lowest-ever ranking in the global list of happiest countries to live (businessinsider.com)
US Happiness Ranking Hits Rock Bottom
The United States has plummeted to its lowest-ever ranking on the World Happiness Report, coming in at a dismal 24th place in the 2025 edition. This marks a significant drop from its 15th place ranking just two years prior, and the lowest point since the report began 13 years ago.
Released on the International Day of Happiness, the report paints a bleak picture for American well-being. Finland, meanwhile, continues its reign of happiness, securing the top spot for the eighth consecutive year.
Several other European nations also dominated the top tier, claiming seven of the top ten spots. The only non-European countries to crack the top ten were Israel, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
The report attributes the US decline to several factors, including a rise in solo dining and “deaths of despair”—preventable deaths linked to suicide, alcohol abuse, and drug overdoses. The report highlights data showing that roughly one-quarter of Americans ate every meal alone the day before being surveyed in 2023.
The rankings are determined using the Cantril Ladder, a life evaluation tool employed by the Gallup World Poll. Over 100,000 people across 140 countries and territories are asked to rate their lives on a scale of zero to ten, with zero representing the worst possible life and ten the best.
Finland achieved an average score of 7.7, while the US lagged behind at 6.7. Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the list with a score of 1.4.