If you only knew Israel from headlines and social media, you would probably expect it to rank among the least happy countries in the world.  The data tells a very different story. In the 2026 World Happiness Report, Israel ranked as the 8th happiest country in the world. Even more remarkable, Israelis under the age of 25 ranked as the third happiest young people anywhere (American young people are ranked 60th!)

At first glance, that seems almost impossible. 

How can a country that has experienced war, regional instability, and months of reserve duty consistently produce some of the happiest young adults in the world?

Perhaps the better questions are: What is Israel’s secret to happiness? What can Israel teach us about helping young people build meaningful lives?

For parents and guidance counselors helping high school students make decisions about their future, these are particularly relevant. We all want students to receive an excellent education and prepare for successful careers. But we also hope they will become resilient, optimistic adults who know how to build meaningful lives, form lasting relationships, and contribute to something beyond themselves.

The Happiness Report doesn’t measure momentary emotions or whether life is free from hardship. Instead, it looks at factors........

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