The world's happiest countries for 2026 - and what they get right

From Nordic trust to Costa Rica's sense of community, residents explain what daily life looks like in the countries topping the 2026 World Happiness Report.

While the Nordic countries have long dominated the World Happiness Report, 2026 brought one surprise. For the first time in the report's 14-year history, a Latin American country made its way into the top five as Costa Rica continued its multi-year rise to fourth place, jumping from 23rd in 2023.

The rankings, produced annually by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, are based on a three-year average of how residents in 140 countries rate their own lives alongside factors such as GDP, social support, life expectancy, perceived freedom, generosity and corruption. For the second year in a row, no major English-speaking countries made the top 10, with Australia at 15th, the United States at 23rd, Canada at 25th and the UK at 29th.

This year, the countries in the top five each have unique aspects contributing to their happiness, though freedom to make life choices scores highly among all of them. We spoke to residents living in each country to find out what contributes to the daily and long-term sense of happiness – and how travellers can experience a taste of the local "happy life" when they visit.     

For nine of the past 10 years, Finland has ranked number one (slipping briefly to second place in 2020). The country scores highly for social support and low perceived corruption, and residents often point to the social safety net – including education and healthcare – that creates a sense of security and wellbeing. 

"I love the fact Finland is safe and I can trust the average person here," said Olli Salo, co-founder of the Helsinki-based company Skimle. "Kids walk to school from age seven, you don't feel threatened when walking home, and you can trust if someone makes a promise they will keep it."

While the country has high taxes, residents see a clear trade-off. Salo compares it to paying for a premium software subscription; while it may cost more, the quality is better. "The majority of the really important things in life like health, education and transportation are public services, so why not splurge a bit and get those in high quality?" he said. He also finds Finnish workplaces more collaborative than elsewhere in the world, with less hierarchy and less "corporate theatre".

For Daniel Sazonov, the current mayor of Helsinki, happiness also comes from proximity to nature. "Being able to step outside, and in a few minutes, reach the sea, a park or a forest for an evening walk is something special," he said. 

For visitors, experiencing Finland's sauna culture should be the first stop. With an estimated three million saunas for a population of just 5.5 million, the nation has no shortage of options. "I suggest trying out the different saunas in Helsinki – and maybe even a plunge into the cold Baltic Sea," said Sazonov. The Helsinki Central Library Oodi, opened in 2018, is a striking modern landmark and a popular gathering place for locals and travellers.

Beyond the capital, Salo suggests heading north in winter, renting a cabin and watching for the Northern Lights. But he advises against a packed itinerary. "I've never understood those who book four activities per day and rush from husky rides to Northern Lights tours," Salo said. "That is not the Finnish way."

Edging past Denmark into second place for the first time since 2014, this island nation of just 400,000 people ranks first for social support – the degree to which residents feel they have someone to count on in times of trouble. It also places in the top 10 for GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy and generosity, making it one of the most well-rounded performers in the rankings.

"Historically, our isolation meant that survival was a group effort.........

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