Recent discussions surrounding the World Happiness Report have been fueled by its annual rankings, which highlight the perceived happiness levels of various nations. The latest report, released in March 2023, once again crowned Finland as the happiest country in the world, a title it has held for several consecutive years. This ranking has sparked conversations about the factors contributing to happiness, such as social support, income, and life expectancy, especially in the context of global challenges like economic instability and political unrest.
The World Happiness Report is a publication produced by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, first launched in 2012. It aims to measure and analyze the state of global happiness, using data from surveys where respondents rate their own lives. The report correlates these self-reported happiness levels with various indicators, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The findings serve as a tool for policymakers to understand and improve the well-being of their citizens.
