The annual World Happiness Report has again ranked Finland and other Scandinavian countries the most cheerful nations on Earth. Costa Rica and Kuwait entered the top 20 in place of the United States and Germany.

Finland has remained the happiest country in the world for the seventh year a row with nordic neighbors SwedenDenmark and Iceland also retaining their places in the top 10, according to the annual World Happiness Report published on Wednesday.

But rising unhapiness especially among young people has seen other Western countries drop down the UN-sponsored index, with the United States and Germany dropping out of the top 20 for the first time since the report’s first edition more than a decade ago.

Taking their place were Costa Rica and Kuwait at 12 and 13 respectively, while Eastern European countries SerbiaBulgaria and Latvia reported the biggest increases in happiness.

Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, remained in last place.

  • Kostyeah@lemmy.ca
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    8 months ago

    Those people probably saw their homes rise in value 10x over their lifetimes. They’re not stuck renting shoeboxes for $2000 a month like the rest of us.

    • Pilferjinx@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Yeah my parents are sitting pretty from buying just after the 2008 crash. It’s too bad I was busy being a kid, there’s no hope for me now.