Every year the World Happiness Report exists to remind us that a very specific corner of the world is living on cloud nine while the rest of us miserable sacks play catch up.
That’s true again this year, of course, as the totally legit Happiness Research Institute has declared Finland the happiest country in the world for a second year running.
You can probably guess the handful of countries holding down spots two through seven. They include perennial ranking toppers Denmark, Norway, Iceland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Sweden. In that order.
Proving that life can also be good in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand holds on to the eight spot from last year.
Speaking of last year, where the hell is Canada? In 2018 we were the seventh-happiest country in the world. And now? A measly ninth. According the the data, Canadians saw a decrease in happiness steeper than citizens of countries like Iraq and Kuwait. What happened? Honestly, not much. We smashed it in pretty much every category and are home to one of the most giving populations in the world (60% of Canadians donate to a charity), which the Happiness Research Institute has determined as a factor for increasing one’s well-being.
Here’s a look at the top 25:
For a detailed explanation of the methodology behind these findings, as well as further analysis of the factors that contribute to happiness around the world, check out the full report here.