Can happiness be measured? Seriously, can we really measure happiness and put a number on it! I’m a bit skeptic (But who am i? Nobody!). But every year, the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network publishes its World Happiness Report, and make some countries a little less unhappy not being the happiest countries in the world. Irony!

Launched in 2012, 2021’s World Happiness Report, is the 9th report in the line. As usual a Nordic country became the Happiest country for 2021, as well as all Nordic countries are in the top places of the list. There’s not much changes in ranking, but Covid-19 has a significant effects on survey as mentioned in the report “The change from 2017-2019 to 2020 varied considerably among countries, but not enough to change rankings in any significant fashion materially. The same countries remain at the top.”

1. Finland, the happiest country 2021

Finland, the happient country in the world 2021. Four consecutive no 1 position. Wikipedia

The World Happiness Report is based on yearly survey of more than 350,000 people in around 100 countries. The survey has a 10-point scale to rate happiness on different issues. It is primarily based on levels of real GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption among others. Due to covid, this year’s surveyor were unable to carry face-to-face interviews in most of the countries. And also Covod-19 impact was the part of the this years report. More about the methods here.

2. Icelandland, the second happiest country 2021

Iceland, the second happient country in the world 2021. Last year 4th position. Wikipedia

3. Denmark, the third happiest country 2021

Denmark, the third happient country in the world 2021. Last year 2nd position. Wikipedia

“The change from 2017-2019 to 2020 varied considerably among countries, but not enough to change rankings in any significant fashion materially. The same countries remain at the top.

Emotions changed more than did life satisfaction during the first year of COVID-19, worsening more during lock-down and recovering faster, as illustrated by large samples of UK data. For the world as a whole, based on the annual data from the Gallup World Poll, there was no overall change in positive affect, but there was a roughly 10% increase in the number of people who said they were worried or sad the previous day.”

– Happiness Report 2021

4. Switzerland, the 4th happiest country 2021

Switzerland, the fourth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 2nd position. Wikipedia

 It is surprising that some of aspect of life that we think are very important like money, doesn’t stand on very high ground on the survey. As mentioned in the report,

“Trust and the ability to count on others are major supports to life evaluations, especially in the face of crises. To feel that your lost wallet would be returned if found by a police officer, by a neighbor, or a stranger, is estimated to be more important for happiness than income, unemployment, and major health risks ” – Happiness Report 2021

5. Netherlands, the fifth happiest country 2021

Netherlands, the fifth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 6th position. Wikipedia

6. Sweden, the sixth happiest country 2021

Sweden, the sixth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 7th position. Wikipedia

The Covid-19 has a very strong effects on people, financially as well as mentally.

“This ninth World Happiness Report is unlike any that have come before. COVID-19 has shaken, taken, and reshaped lives everywhere. ” – Happiness Report 2021

7. Germany, the seventh happiest country 2021

Germany, the seventh happient country in the world 2021. Last year 15th position. Wikipedia

8. Norway, the second happiest country 2021

Norway, the eighth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 5th position. Wikipedia

9. New Zealand, the ninth happiest country 2021

New Zealand, the ninth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 8th position. Wikipedia

10. Austria, the 10th happiest country 2021

Austria, the tenth happient country in the world 2021. Last year 9th position. Wikipedia

The list of countries surveyed are shown to be 149 and the bottom five, or the least happiest countries (2018-2020) are Afghanistan (149), Zimbabwe (148), Rwanda (147), Botswana (146) and Lesotho (145). The below world map shows happiness chart mapped over all the countries mentioned.

Source: Visual Capitalist – Visit to view detailed map information