The United States has hit an all-time low in the World Happiness Report history, falling to 24th place in 2025. The Thursday, March 20, report represents a continued drop for the US, which had dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in 2024, placing No. 23. It fell one position this year. In 2012, the US had been at its peak of 11th.
The annual report, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is ranked using answers from individuals who rate their own lives. Gallup’s CEO, Jon Clifton, highlighted the larger influences on happiness, “Happiness isn’t about money or expansion, it’s about trust, belonging and knowing individuals have your back. In the event that we wish to have more robust communities and economies, we need to put money into what really counts: one another.”
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Top 25 Happiest Countries in 2025
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Austria
- Canada
- Slovenia
- Czechia
- United Arab Emirates
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Belize
Surprises in the 2025 Rankings
Nordic countries, as in the past, topped the rankings with the first four positions. Costa Rica and Mexico, however, made history as they entered the top 10 for the first time, standing at position 6 and 10, respectively.
Simultaneously, having experienced tough opposition owing to its continued conflict with Hamas, Israel held on to the 8th place with a good rating in the listings. The top 20 listings remained dominated by European countries with minimal exceptions.
Why US’ Ranking Dropped
One notable trend in the US contributing to its lower ranking is a 53% increase in people dining alone over the past two decades. This reflects broader social shifts and could indicate weakening community bonds.
The World Happiness Report continues to highlight that well-being is influenced not only by economic factors but also by social trust, community engagement, and interpersonal connections.
