Ranked: The World’s Happiest and Unhappiest Countries

Ranked: The World’s Happiest and Unhappiest Countries

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Every year, the World Happiness Report reveals where people feel most satisfied with their lives, and where they don’t.

This graphic uses data from the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report to show the happiest and unhappiest countries in the world.

The report ranks 147 countries using data from the Gallup World Poll, where respondents score their lives on a scale from 0 to 10, known as the Cantril Ladder. The rankings are based on a three-year average from 2023 to 2025, offering a more stable snapshot of global well-being.

The Top 30 Happiest Countries in 2026

Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country as of the 2026 report, extending a streak that has lasted nine consecutive years.

Alongside Iceland and Denmark, it highlights that high trust in institutions and quality of life remain key drivers of well-being.

The data table below ranks the top 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:

Rank	Country	Life evaluation (3-year average)
1	Finland	7.8
2	Iceland	7.5
3	Denmark	7.5
4	Costa Rica	7.4
5	Sweden	7.3
6	Norway	7.2
7	Netherlands	7.2
8	Israel	7.2
9	Luxembourg	7.1
10	Switzerland	7.0
11	New Zealand	7.0
12	Mexico	7.0
13	Ireland	6.9
14	Belgium	6.9
15	Australia	6.9
16	Kosovo	6.9
17	Germany	6.9
18	Slovenia	6.9
19	Austria	6.8
20	Czechia	6.8
21	United Arab Emirates	6.8
22	Saudi Arabia	6.8
23	United States	6.8
24	Poland	6.8
25	Canada	6.7
26	Taiwan	6.7
27	Belize	6.7
28	Lithuania	6.7
29	United Kingdom	6.7
30	Serbia	6.7

Beyond Europe, Costa Rica and Mexico are notable standouts, ranking in the global top 10 and outperforming many wealthier nations. Costa Rica’s rise to fourth is the strongest recording ever for a Latin American nation, while Mexico has jumped to 12th spot up from 36th in 2022.

The U.S. ranks 23rd, one of its lowest positions on record.

This follows a broadly declining trend seen over the past 15 years. The U.S. ranked 11th in 2011, but by 2024 it had fallen down to its lowest ranking of 24th. A key driver is the sharp drop in well-being among younger Americans, often linked to rising social media use and declining mental health.

Elsewhere, Israel ranks eighth, making it the highest-ranked country in the Middle East, followed by the UAE (21st) and Saudi Arabia (22nd). In Asia, Taiwan stands out as the only country to make the global top 30, ranking 26th overall.

Which Countries Are the Least Happy?

Afghanistan ranks as the world’s unhappiest country, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.

For years, Afghanistan’s political instability, war, and restrictions on rights and freedoms has led to an increased sense of hopelessness. Over the course of the past decade, its score has dropped from 3.8 in 2016 to just 1.4.

The data table below ranks the bottom 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:

Rank	Canada	Life evaluation (3-year average)
1	Afghanistan	1.4
2	Sierra Leone	3.3
3	Malawi	3.3
4	Zimbabwe	3.3
5	Botswana	3.5
6	Yemen	3.5
7	Lebanon	3.7
8	DR Congo	3.8
9	Egypt	3.9
10	Tanzania	3.9
11	Eswatini	3.9
12	Comoros	3.9
13	Ethiopia	4.0
14	Sri Lanka	4.0
15	Zambia	4.1
16	Madagascar	4.2
17	Togo	4.3
18	Liberia	4.3
19	Myanmar	4.3
20	Gambia	4.3
21	Bangladesh	4.3
22	Lesotho	4.4
23	Chad	4.4
24	Benin	4.4
25	Burkina Faso	4.5
26	Congo	4.5
27	Cambodia	4.5
28	Mauritania	4.5
29	Jordan	4.5
30	Uganda	4.5

Myanmar also ranks among the least happy countries globally, as ongoing conflict between the military junta and rebel groups since 2021 has displaced millions and deepened a severe humanitarian crisis.

Political upheaval has also swept across other Asian countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, amid economic difficulties. In recent years, both countries have seen protests that led to the ousting of their leaders.

Ultimately, the global happiness rankings reveal a clear divide: countries with stability, strong institutions, and social support systems consistently rank highest, while those facing conflict and uncertainty continue to fall behind.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries where people live the longest.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-worlds-happiest-and-unhappiest-countries/