This Country Is the World’s Happiest

2020 likely wasn’t anyone’s favorite year ever, but for citizens of one country, it was a little bit better, according to the United Nations.

The United Nations just released their annual World Happiness Report which ranks countries based on income, life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, trust in government, and generosity.  

Normally, the report uses data from the three previous years to rank countries’ happiness levels but decided to analyze 2020 separately due to the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changing everyone’s lives. 

So what did the United Nations declare to be the happiest country? It’s Finland, for the fourth year in a row. The top ten happiest countries according to the report are:

1. Finland 
2. Iceland 
3. Denmark 
4. Switzerland
5. Netherlands 
6. Sweden 
7. Germany 
8. Norway 
9. New Zealand 
10. Austria 

The most surprising finding from the report? On average, people did not report a decline in well-being in 2020, said Professor John F. Helliwell of the University of British Columbia (one of the editors of the report). “One possible explanation is that people see COVID-19 as a common, outside threat affecting everybody and that this has generated a greater sense of solidarity and fellow-feeling.”

So if you want to add a little happiness to your life, consider booking a trip to Finland once things reopen—or, if you’re considering relocating there, keep an eye out for Helsinki’s 90 Day Finn relocation program to return. This package previously offered international residents the chance to temporarily live and work in Finland, but is not currently accepting applications.