Have you ever wondered which is the happiest country in the world? With over 190 countries, not everyone is quite happy, to be honest. The World Happiness Report, which gets released every year based on multiple factors and their ranking, shows which countries are quite happy and which ones aren’t.
In this post, I’m going to share a list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world which are ranked at the top. Let’s jump into the main topic, shall we?
Top Happiest Countries in the World
Here, you’ll find the top 10 happiest countries in the world based on the World Happiness Report.
1. Finland
Finland has ranked as the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive time in 2024, which is quite a remarkable achievement this country has made look easy. Finland has a 7.8 out of 10 rating by the World Happiness Report.
The main reason why Finland is ranked at the number one position is, that the citizens of this country support each other quite well during any situation and there is little to no violence among them.
Other reasons why this country is ranked no.1 in this area are, that the pay gap between male and female employees is very small, low corruption rate, and the freedom to make individual choices which are quite remarkable, to say the least.
Finland has a population of around 5.5 million and not only does this country rank for being the happiest, but it is also one of the safest countries in the world and ranks #14 for that department.
2. Denmark:
The beautiful country of Denmark is ranked as the second happiest country in the world, with a rating of 7.6/ 10. This country has been ranking in this list for a long time now and occasionally, the ranking drops by one or two positions.
A few reasons why Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world is, that the minimum wage for the employees is pretty good, 33 hours per week, and the government provides benefits like free universities and healthcare. Apart from that, corruption in the world government is minimal, which is quite important for any country.
Not only does Denmark hold the number two position in this list, but it is also the second safest country in the world after Iceland. You can look at that list on our site If you want to know more about them.
3. Iceland:
Iceland isn’t only a destination known for tourists, it is one of the happiest countries in the world, with a rating of 7.5/ 10. The crime rate of this country is extremely low, and the social support among the citizens is quite good. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), it has a rating of 98%, and this rating explains that ho
Along with being one of the happiest countries in the world, Iceland is the safest country, with a Global Peace Index (GPI) rating of 1.12. If you are planning to visit this country in the future, you can do that without worrying about safety, as crime does occur only in rare instances.
4. Israel:
Some people might be slightly surprised to see Israel as being one of the happiest countries in the world because you may have seen news of this country being at war with countries like Palestine.
However, that’s the reality. This country was ranked at the number 9 position in 2022. However, it jumped into the number 4 position after beating many other popular countries.
According to a few reports, one of the main reasons why Israel made it to this list is, that the people of the country are quite happy with what they have and showcase their gratitude proudly. This attitude is lacking in many countries, making this country different from others.
5. Netherlands:
The beautiful European country of the Netherlands is considered one of the happiest countries in the world based on various factors. More than 50% of the population of this country are well educated and settled in a good job or own their businesses.
The Netherlands is one of the best tourist attractions in the world and people from various parts of the world visit this country to explore its natural beauty.
The work-life balance in the Netherlands is outstanding. Employers encourage their employees to maintain the right balance in both their professional and personal lives to have a peaceful life. It is one of the main reasons for being one of the happiest countries in the world.
6. Sweden:
Sweden has a population of around 10 million and is one of the happiest countries in the world. There are many reasons behind this success, and one of the key points I would like to mention here is, the freedom to choice for both women and men to make their own choice, and that’s why around 50% of women represent the government cabinet today.
A few other reasons Sweden ranks in this list are that the government of this country is pretty stable and the corruption rate is pretty low. The social community among Swedish citizens is quite helpful and they help each other whenever needed. This attitude alone explains the social harmony of this beautiful country.
7. Norway:
Norway is another European country on this list, ranked for multiple reasons. For example, the government of this country provides unemployment benefits for those who cannot find a job for themselves.
Apart from that, the government also provides job security for the citizens of this country so that they can work on a specific job for a long time.
The government and employees highly encourage work-life balance in this country so citizens can have a relaxed life outside of work. If you are planning to shift to such a country, Norway should definitely be on the top of your list.
8. Switzerland:
Well, who doesn’t Switzerland, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, know its stunning places. Not only is this country filled with beauty but also with happiness among the people.
The people of the country are humble and live in religious and social harmony and that’s the reason it is considered as one of the happiest countries in the world.
Switzerland ranked #1 happiest country by the World Happiness Report and has now slipped to the number 8. Despite losing some ranking, it can be considered as one of the happiest countries in the world and is quite safe for both citizens as well as tourists.
9. Luxembourg:
Luxembourg is a very small country in Europe whose population is just around 6.4 lakhs. Despite being a small country, it is one of the happiest countries in the world by performing well in various sectors. The GDP of this country is quite good and is one of the few countries with a low level of corruption.
Luxembourg also has a stable government which is one of the key reasons to rank in this list. The literacy rate in Luxembourg among adults is over 60%, and most have a well-settled job. If you are planning to visit this country, I would suggest you go to places like The Walls of the Corniche and The Old Quarter of Luxembourg City to experience the beauty of this country.
10. New Zealand:
New Zealand ranks as the 10th happiest country in the world in 2024 and is one of the few countries where the crime rate is pretty low. The quality of life in this country is pretty high and there is a strong community to support each other.
Apart from that, New Zealand also has unique qualities like a low corruption rate, a well-educated society, a life expectancy, and more. If you don’t know, let me tell you a small fact New Zealand isn’t a European country nor it is an Asian country, it is located on the Oceania continent. Right now, New Zealand is the fourth safest country on the planet with a GPI of 1.3.
Conclusion:
Various factors help to find the list of the happiest country in the world and that’s what the World Happiness Report has been doing for over a decade now. I hope you have found this list pretty interesting and may have got to know about the interesting facts about the country I have talked about above.
If you have any doubts, suggestions, or questions, do let me know in the comments below and I’ll get back to you very soon. Thanks.
Since 2014 I have been writing about tech and helping others to fix tech issues related to Android, Windows, iOS, Chromebook, and more.
I love to help others to fix any technical issues they might be facing.