The 7 Happiest Countries in the World (2024 Edition)

We’re going to be exploring the 7 happiest countries in the world. Whether you’re looking to move to a place surrounded by joy, or checking the list to see if your country is overwhelmed with contentment, this list will answer your questions about the happiest spots on Earth.

Each year, a World Happiness Report is produced to give insights into the areas around the globe with the most glee. We’ve taken the 2023 World Happiness Report, along with editorial discretion, to produce this list of countries around the world that are the happiest in 2024. Seven factors make up the score, including:

• Perceptions of corruption
• Generosity
• Freedom to make life choices
• Healthy life expectancy
• Social support
• GDP per capita
• Dystopia and Residual

While most of the factors are easily understood, the dystopia & residual score compares the country to an imaginary unhappy country and identifies miscellaneous components that make a country happier. These seven categories work together to explain the happiest countries on Earth!

7. Switzerland

The first country we’ll be taking a look at is Switzerland. Switzerland holds the seventh spot for the happiest countries in the world, with an overall index score of 7.240. The country ranks highly in a few different factors, including GDP per capita. Additionally, residents of Switzerland see a healthy life expectancy and liberal freedom to make life choices. With those factors in mind, it’s easy to understand why the Swiss are some of the happiest people on Earth!

6. Norway

While all Scandinavian countries are on this list, the first to be discussed is Norway. Norway is the sixth-happiest country on Earth, with an overall happiness score of 7.315. Norway has a very high level of GDP per capita, which contributes greatly to its overall high score. Additionally, the country has a high score in the freedom to make life choices category. These factors work together to make Norway a very happy place.

5. Sweden

Staying up north, we have the Scandinavian country of Sweden as the fifth-happiest country in the world. Its overall index score for happiness is 7.395, and the country ranks highly in a few of the six factors that make up the index. GDP per capita is a major strength of Sweden, as well as the freedom to make life choices. Additionally, the country boasts a very healthy life expectancy.

4. Netherlands

The Netherlands is the fourth-happiest country on the globe, with an overall index ranking of 7.403. Some of the things that make the Netherlands happy (other than the gorgeous buildings and flowers) include a high GDP per capita and a high sense of freedom to make life choices. The Netherlands also ranks highly in generosity.

3. Iceland

Another chilly country is finding its spot in the happiest countries list, and that country is Iceland. Iceland is the third-happiest country in the world, with an overall index score of 7.530. When looking at the factors that make up the happiness of the country, there are exceedingly high scores for a few categories. Iceland has one of the highest levels of freedom to make life choices, and there are also high levels of social support and GDP per capita.

2. Denmark

Denmark takes the cake as the second-happiest country on Earth. The country has a total Happiness Report index of 7.586. When you look at the individual factors that make up Denmark’s happiness, the country has high social support and GDP per capita. Its dystopian/residual index is also very high.

1. Finland

Finally, Finland is taking the cake as the happiest country in the entire world with a total index score of 7.804. Finland is a gorgeous country, located in Scandinavia. According to the World Happiness Report, Finland has high levels of social support and GDP per capita, as well as high levels of dystopia/residual happiness. Overall, whether you’re a traveler or a resident, you’re likely to be pretty chipper in Finland.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Quang Nguyen Vinh from Pexels, Vexflick/ via Canva.com