The United Kingdom has fallen to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report, marking its lowest ranking in nearly a decade. Participants in the survey are asked to score their life as a whole and rankings also factor GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption. Finland, for the eighth consecutive year, secured the top spot, followed closely by Denmark and Iceland. The latest report also saw entries from Costa Rica and Mexico. Despite boasting one of the world's largest economies and maintaining political stability, the UK slipped from 20th place last year. Experts suggest that a decline in happiness among younger generations may be a contributing factor to the nation's downturn in the rankings.

One of the most pressing issues for young people in the UK is the housing crisis. Many in their twenties struggle to afford their own homes, forcing a growing number to continue living with their parents well into adulthood. The high cost of living has exacerbated this trend, adding to financial and emotional stress. Additionally, mental health concerns have intensified, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety and other mental health issues have taken a significant toll, further diminishing overall happiness levels.

Despite geopolitical tensions, including fears of Russian aggression, Finland has maintained its position as the happiest nation. Experts attribute this success to robust social support systems, high-quality healthcare, and an accessible education system. These factors provide a strong foundation for overall well-being and societal contentment. Now in its 13th year, the World Happiness Report is produced in collaboration with Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The ranking is determined through surveys of 1,000 individuals in each country, with researchers analysing key indicators such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

Russia saw an unexpected improvement, climbing six places to 66th, with reported happiness rising by 12.51%. In contrast, Ukraine experienced an 8.04% decline in its happiness score, reflecting the ongoing hardship of war. Costa Rica and Mexico, despite grappling with high levels of drug-related crime, made it into the top ten for the first time. Professor John Helliwell, a founder of the happiness index, attributed this rise to strong family structures and effective local healthcare delivery.

Meanwhile, the United States slipped to 24th place, partly due to growing happiness levels in other nations, including Lithuania (16th) and Slovenia (19th). However, a decline in social trust has also contributed to dissatisfaction in the U.S., fueling a rise in anti-establishment political sentiment. The report noted that unhappy individuals are more likely to gravitate towards extreme political ideologies. Moreover, the U.S. remains one of the few countries where "deaths of despair"—suicides and fatalities linked to alcohol or drug abuse—are on the rise, further impacting its happiness ranking.

Afghanistan ranked as the least happy country globally, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon. Due to unsafe conditions, Sudan and Syria were excluded from this year's survey, as researchers were unable to collect sufficient data. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and an editor of the report, emphasized the need to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. He stated, "In this era of social isolation and political polarization, we need to find ways to bring people together—doing so is critical for our individual and collective well-being."