World Happiness Report 3rd version

Introduction

Key findings

• Gradual Improvement: Average global happiness has increased from ~5.39 (2011) to ~5.58 (2024)
• 2011-2016: Relatively stable around 5.35-5.40
• 2017-2019: Beginning of upward trend
• 2019-2024: Higher plateau around 5.50-5.58

Country-Level Analysis

Countries with Largest Changes in Happiness

Key findings

• Post-Soviet and eastern European countries showed improvement trends, with Serbia, Bulgaria, and Georgia having the largest improvements in happiness.
• Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Jordan had the most severe declines in happiness, coinciding with major political and economic events.

Happiness Contributing Factors

Contributing factors 2024

The top contributors to happiness worldwide in 2024 were social support, GDP per capita, and having a sense of freedom.

Happiness Factor Breakdown for Top 10 Countries (2024)

Patterns Among Top Countries

• Nordic countries tend to be happy: Finland (7.74), Denmark (7.52), Iceland (7.52), Sweden (7.34), and Norway (7.26) show similar balanced patterns.
• Effect of GDP varies: Luxembourg has the highest GDP contribution, while Costa Rica has high happiness with lower GDP contribution, but strong social factors.
• Balanced Approach: No single happiness factor dominates.

Conclusions

1. Global happiness is gradually improving: The world has become slightly happier over the past decade.

2. Social connections and economic conditions are most important: GDP per capita and social support are the strongest contributors to national happiness.

3. Multiple pathways to happiness: The top countries show that there are different combinations of factors that can lead to high happiness levels.

4. Crises can severely affect happiness: Countries experiencing political upheaval or economic crisis show dramatic happiness declines.