The World’s Happiest and Unhappiest Countries

The graphic depicts data from the 2026 World Happiness Report to show the happiest and unhappiest countries in the world.

Breakpoint

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.

Happiest Countries	Name	Happiness Score	Unhappiest Countries	Name	Happiness Score
1	Finland	7.8	1	Afghanistan	1.4
2	Iceland	7.5	2	Sierra Leone	3.3
3	Denmark	7.5	3	Malawi	3.3
4	Costa Rica	7.4	4	Zimbabwe	3.3
5	Sweden	7.3	5	Botswana	3.5
6	Norway	7.2	6	Yemen	3.5
7	Netherlands	7.2	7	Lebanon	3.7
8	Israel	7.2	8	DR Congo	3.8
9	Luxembourg	7.1	9	Egypt	3.9
10	Switzerland	7.0	10	Tanzania	3.9
11	New Zealand	7.0	11	Eswatini	3.9
12	Mexico	7.0	12	Comoros	3.9
13	Ireland	6.9	13	Ethiopia	4.0
14	Belgium	6.9	14	Sri Lanka	4.0
15	Australia	6.9	15	Zambia	4.1
16	Kosovo	6.9	16	Madagascar	4.2
17	Germany	6.9	17	Togo	4.3
18	Slovenia	6.9	18	Liberia	4.3
19	Austria	6.8	19	Myanmar	4.3
20	Czechia	6.8	20	Gambia	4.3
21	United Arab Emirates	6.8	21	Bangladesh	4.3
22	Saudi Arabia	6.8	22	Lesotho	4.4