The 2026 World Happiness Report reveals the latest survey results showing Finland remains the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year, while research indicates social media reduces happiness among the younger generation.
The 2026 World Happiness Report shows that Finland continues to be the happiest country worldwide for the ninth year running, while Nordic countries such as Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway consistently rank in the top 10.
The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, highlights that key factors contributing to high happiness levels in Northern European countries include evenly distributed wealth, strong welfare systems, and longer average life expectancy.
However, the most concerning issue in this year's report is the impact of "social media," which shows that heavy usage clearly lowers well-being and happiness among young people, especially teenage girls in English-speaking and Western European countries.
The report also reflects global disparities in happiness, with countries experiencing severe conflict remaining at the bottom of the rankings, such as Afghanistan, identified as the least happy country in the world, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.
The rankings are based on data from around 100,000 people across 140 countries and territories worldwide, who assessed their own quality of life. This survey was conducted in collaboration with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The 2026 rankings also highlight a significant trend: for the second consecutive year, no English-speaking country ranks in the top 10. The United States is ranked 23rd, Canada 25th, and the United Kingdom 29th.
Experts suggest that the rising use of social media, especially among teenagers, may be a key factor contributing to the continuous decline in happiness levels in many countries over recent years.
. Source:AP
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