Finland retained the first place in the updated ranking of countries ranked by the level of happiness of their residents. Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands are also in the top five.
In the new version of the World Happiness Report (2022-2024), Russia moved up to 66th place out of 153 possible. In the report presented last year, which covered 2021-2023, Russia ranked 72nd. Among the former Soviet Union countries, Russia was ahead of Kyrgyzstan (75th), Moldova (80th), Armenia (87th), Tajikistan (90th), Georgia (91st), Azerbaijan (106th) and Ukraine (111th).
The US dropped from 23rd to 24th place, the worst ranking for the country. China ranked 68th against 60th in the previous ranking. Afghanistan was again recognised as the most miserable country. Sierra Leone ranked second from the bottom, while Lebanon ranked third.
The World Happiness Report takes into account such criteria as a country’s economic potential (GDP per capita), quality of health care (life expectancy), level of freedom and security, as well as social aspects such as the level of trust of the population in the state and its policies.
The World Happiness Report is an international research project that measures the happiness of the population in countries around the world. The study is conducted by the Earth Institute and the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University under the auspices of the United Nations.
