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Canada Earns Place in Top 25 Happiest Nations
Canada has secured the 25th position out of 147 countries in the 2026 World Happiness Report, reflecting a drop in its global happiness standing.
In this year’s rankings, Canada placed just below the United States and between Poland (24th) and Taiwan (26th). The report was released on March 19 through a collaboration between Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Canada’s Ranking Shows Downward Trend
Despite remaining among the top 25 happiest nations, Canada’s latest ranking represents a decline from its 18th-place position in 2025.
The country recorded a life evaluation score of 6.741, still outperforming several developed nations including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain.
Experts highlight that this decline is part of a broader trend seen in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. A key factor contributing to this shift is the reduced life satisfaction reported by individuals under the age of 25.
Canada’s Ranking Over the Years
| Year | Global Ranking |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 25 |
Top 10 Happiest Countries in 2026
Finland continues its dominance, ranking as the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year with a score of 7.764. Nordic countries once again lead the global rankings.
Costa Rica stood out this year, securing the 4th position—the highest ever achieved by a Latin American nation.
| Rank | Country | Life Evaluation Score |
| 1 | Finland | 7.764 |
| 2 | Iceland | 7.540 |
| 3 | Denmark | 7.539 |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 7.439 |
| 5 | Sweden | 7.255 |
| 6 | Norway | 7.242 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 7.223 |
| 8 | Israel | 7.187 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 7.063 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 7.018 |
Countries Ranking Lower on the Index
Several countries ranked 100 or below in this year’s report, including:
| Country | Rank |
| Cameroon | 100 |
| Pakistan | 104 |
| India | 116 |
| Bangladesh | 127 |
| Sri Lanka | 134 |
| Afghanistan | 147 |
How the World Happiness Report is Measured
The rankings are based on individuals’ self-assessment of their quality of life rather than nationality. Participants evaluate their lives using the Cantril Ladder, rating their well-being on a scale from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life).
The 2026 rankings are calculated using average data collected between 2023 and 2025, with around 1,000 respondents surveyed annually in each country.
In addition, the report analyzes several key indicators associated with life satisfaction:
- GDP per capita
- Social support
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Perceptions of corruption
These factors help explain differences between countries but do not directly determine their rankings.
Decline in Youth Well-Being Raises Concerns
A notable finding in this year’s report is the sharp decline in life satisfaction among people under 25, particularly in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand collectively referred to as the NANZ region.
The report suggests that increased screen time and social media usage may be contributing to lower levels of perceived well-being among younger populations.