The United States has fallen to its lowest happiness ranking in the history of the annual World Happiness Report, which was released on Thursday to mark the International Day of Happiness. In its 24th place position, the country has plummeted from its 11th spot in 2012, when the report was first published. Germany, ranking 22nd in the index, is now ahead of the US, having improved from its 24th place last year.

On the flip side, Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, with Finns rating their lives an average of 7.736 out of 10. The Nordic countries dominated the top 10, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway securing the second, third, fourth, and seventh spots respectively. Costa Rica and Mexico have made it to the top ten for the first time.

The World Happiness Report is a global study that ranks countries based on their population’s happiness levels. After surveying people worldwide and asking them to evaluate their lives, researchers found key factors contributing to happiness, such as social support, income, health, freedom, and perceptions of corruption.

A total of 147 countries were ranked, with Afghanistan obtaining the lowest average score of 1.364. The United States’ declining well-being is partly attributed to the growing number of individuals eating alone, with about one in four Americans reporting eating all their meals alone the previous day. Despite other countries experiencing a decline in “deaths of despair,” such as deaths resulting from suicide or substance abuse, the United States witnessed an increase in these cases.

Researchers surveyed people worldwide in 2022-2024, before US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, which has since influenced national and global affairs.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/us-happiness-ranking-hits-all-time-low-germany-climbs/a-71982896?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf