The World’s Happiest and Unhappiest Countries 🌍

What We're Showing

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

Key Takeaways

• Finland ranks #1 with a score of 7.8, while Afghanistan ranks last at 1.4, highlighting a wide global gap in life satisfaction.
• Nordic countries dominate the top rankings, while countries facing conflict and instability cluster at the bottom.
• The U.S. ranks 23rd, continuing a long-term decline from its peak of 11th in 2011.

Methodology

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.