Canada is the happiest country in the G7, according to the World Happiness Report edited by a Simon Fraser University professor.
While Canada remains the only G7 member in the Top 20, the U.S. slides to its lowest-ever position, according to Lara Aknin, distinguished professor of social psychology at SFU and an editor of the report released today.
"The U.K. and the U.S. have fallen out of the top 20," says Aknin. "Canada is one of the great global powers left in the top 20. Nordic countries remain at the top with Finland holding the number one spot for the eighth year in a row." Other countries, like Mexico, have jumped up in the ranks, she adds.
Key findings:
- Nordic countries Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden take top four spots
- Canada is the only G7 country to stay in the top 20 (18th)
- The U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position (24th)
- Costa Rica and Mexico break into the top 10 for the first time (6th and 10th)
- Afghanistan ranks the lowest (147th)
Year after year, the world's happiest countries are often those with strong social safety nets and more pro-social behaviour - small everyday acts of kindness that help foster a feel-good sense of togetherness, says Aknin.
One key finding unpacked in this year's report is that happiness isn't just about one's own actions - it's also about assuming the best of others. Based on studies that looked at whether people expected others to return a lost wallet, Aknin and her co-authors say people underestimate the kindness of others - with the rate of wallet return being two-times higher than expected.
What we think of others has a large impact on our own well-being as well as how we interact with the world, says Aknin. "If you don't expect to see kindness from others, you might not offer them an opportunity to engage," she says. "And then you only see what you were expecting all along."
What we think of others has a large impact on our own well-being as well as how we interact with the world, says Aknin. "If you don't expect to see kindness from others, you might not offer them an opportunity to engage," she says. "And then you only see what you were expecting all along."
The annual report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainability Development Solutions Network and an independent editorial board.
Country happiness rankings are based on a three-year average of responses to Gallup World Poll question assessing life evaluations. Predictors of cross-country differences are based on quality-of-life assessments, including each country's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, a sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
RISING POPULISM, SHRINKING TRUST
Declining happiness and social trust in the U.S. and parts of Europe can help explain the rise of populism and anti-system votes, report authors say. Trust - how much people trust their neighbours, communities, and government - is a key feature that helps researchers identify where people fall on the political spectrum.
"Those that lean right tend to have lower levels of trust, and those that lean left tend to have higher levels of trust," Aknin says.
The report also found that social trust - the main predictor of deep cultural divides - is tumbling in the U.S., with just 30 per cent of Americans reporting trust in others.
GEN Z HAPPINESS ON THE DECLINE
Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand saw the biggest declines in happiness in young adults in this year's report.
More people from top-ranking countries reported having someone they can turn to for support when times are tough - and social connection is vital to young adults' well-being - but the report flags an alarming trend.
In 2023, 19 per cent of young adults across the world reported having no one they could count on for social support, from 39 per cent in 2006.
"This perceived lack of support is critical and worrisome because social relationships are a key source of happiness," Aknin says.
TABLE FOR ONE
The report also looks at the growing trend of eating alone. Close to 20 per cent of Americans now eat most of their meals solo, an increase of 53 per cent over the last two decades. According to the report, eating meals alone is an important measure of social connection, on par with income level and unemployment, and a key predictor of happiness.
AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS
LARA AKNIN, professor, social psychology
CONTACT
ROBYN STUBBS, SFU Communications & Marketing
Simon Fraser University
Communications & Marketing | SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210
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