INTERNATIONAL (WALB) -Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year, according to the latest World Happiness Report from the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre.

Iceland secured the second spot, with Denmark in third, making the top three nations all Nordic countries. The United States ranked 23rd on the global happiness list.

How Happiness is Measured

The report collects data by asking people about their subjective well-being, focusing on factors such as:

• Social support
• Personal freedom
• Trust in institutions
• Income and employment satisfaction

This allows researchers to measure not just material wealth, but the overall sense of life satisfaction.

Growing Concerns About Happiness

While Nordic countries continue to lead the rankings, the report also flags declining happiness in several countries, particularly among younger people.

One report author highlighted the impact of social media, noting links to:

• Social comparison
• Online harassment
• Reduced face-to-face interaction

These factors appear to be contributing to a drop in well-being among younger generations.

The report finds a striking trend that in some countries, young adults are now less happy than older generations, reversing a long-standing pattern where happiness generally increased with age.

This shift has prompted researchers to explore the societal pressures and digital influences affecting youth happiness today.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.