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Finland has once again topped the world’s happiest countries ranking, according to the World Happiness Report 2026. Iceland is in second place, Denmark is in third, and Costa Rica is in fourth place.
It is important to remember that countries with strong institutions, high trust, and robust social safety nets consistently rank highest on the list of happiest countries in the world.
Below is the list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world according to the World Happiness Report 2026, with Finland taking first place with a score of 7.8 out of 10.
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score |
| 1 | Finland | 7.8 |
| 2 | Iceland | 7.5 |
| 3 | Denmark | 7.5 |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 7.4 |
| 5 | Sweden | 7.3 |
| 6 | Norway | 7.2 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 7.2 |
| 8 | Israel | 7.2 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 7.1 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 7.0 |
Eight European countries are in the top 10 in the global happiness rankings. However, the Central American country of Costa Rica ranks well above many high-income countries like Ireland, Australia, and Germany. According to Visual Capitalist, factors like social connections, community, and quality of life play a significant role in the country’s success, which are not fully reflected in GDP.
The United States’ Ranking Among the Happiest Countries
The United States is ranked 23rd in the global happiness rankings with a score of 6.8, while Canada (6.7) is 25th. However, the US’s neighbor Mexico (7.0) is ranked 12th.
Also Read: The 10 Happiest States in America
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