Finland: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 7.74 points, an increase from 7.73 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Finland from 2013 to 2024 is 7.64 points. The minimum value, 7.39 points, was reached in 2013 while the maximum of 7.84 points was recorded in 2020.

According to the UN's World Happiness Report, China's happiness index ranged at 5.97 points in 2024. China ranked 60th out of 143 countries. Finland, Denmark, and other European countries held the top spots in the ranking, while Afghanistan stayed at the bottom of the list. What is the happiness index? The happiness index is based on a Cantril ladder survey which is carried out annually worldwide by the polling company Gallup. Nationally representative samples of respondents are asked to value the quality of their lives at the survey moment on a 0 to 10 scale, with the worst possible life as zero and the best possible life as ten. The first World Happiness Report was published in 2012, and since then, governments are increasingly using its insights to orient public policies towards happiness. Surge in happiness in China In 2024, the happiness index in China was the highest since the beginning of the survey series. The growth in the sense of happiness has been consistent over the years except for a short period of 2018-2019. As happiness is hard to quantify, the reasons behind the dip in the curve during that time can only be hypothesized. The happiness index of 5.19 points in 2019, which was in the lower 50 percentile, did not seem to correlate with any of the usual suspects: the GDP growth, pollution levels, corruption or the perception of it, or even income inequality. The possible factors that could have affected people’s happiness were unemployment, insufficient social safety net, and several political issues. However, the country saw a surge in the sense of happiness from 2021 onwards. Successful containment of the COVID-19 pandemic that gave a greater feeling of security, fast economic recovery, and increase in the national pride could have been a few of the reasons behind the recent rising optimism in China.

Saudi Arabia: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 6.59 points, an increase from 6.38 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Saudi Arabia from 2013 to 2024 is 6.44 points. The minimum value, 6.34 points, was reached in 2017 while the maximum of 6.59 points was recorded in 2024.

Pakistan: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 4.66 points, an increase from 4.56 points in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 2013 to 2024 is 5.07 points. The minimum value, 4.52 points, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 5.65 points was recorded in 2019.

Aruba: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Aruba from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .

Palestine: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2022 is 4.91 points, an increase from 4.52 points in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 5.54 points, based on data from 134 countries. Historically, the average for Palestine from 2017 to 2022 is 4.73 points. The minimum value, 4.52 points, was reached in 2020 while the maximum of 4.91 points was recorded in 2022.

Turkey: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 4.98 points, an increase from 4.61 points in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 2013 to 2024 is 5.17 points. The minimum value, 4.61 points, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 5.5 points was recorded in 2017.

Libya: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 5.87 points, an increase from 5.33 points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Libya from 2013 to 2024 is 5.55 points. The minimum value, 5.33 points, was reached in 2021 while the maximum of 5.87 points was recorded in 2024.

Fiji: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Fiji from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .

Liechtenstein: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Liechtenstein from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .

Sierra Leone: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 3.25 points, an increase from 2.56 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Sierra Leone from 2013 to 2024 is 3.95 points. The minimum value, 2.56 points, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 4.71 points was recorded in 2017.

Andorra: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Andorra from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .

Madagascar: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 4.23 points, an increase from 4.02 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Madagascar from 2013 to 2024 is 3.96 points. The minimum value, 3.64 points, was reached in 2017 while the maximum of 4.34 points was recorded in 2021.

Lebanon: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 2.71 points, an increase from 2.35 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Lebanon from 2013 to 2024 is 4.14 points. The minimum value, 2.35 points, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 5.22 points was recorded in 2017.

Monaco: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Monaco from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .

Ghana: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 4.29 points, an increase from 4.19 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Ghana from 2013 to 2024 is 4.62 points. The minimum value, 4.12 points, was reached in 2017 while the maximum of 5.09 points was recorded in 2013.

Ireland: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 6.84 points, a decline from 6.87 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 2013 to 2024 is 6.97 points. The minimum value, 6.84 points, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 7.09 points was recorded in 2020.

Botswana: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from 2024 is 3.38 points, a decline from 3.44 points in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 5.56 points, based on data from 138 countries. Historically, the average for Botswana from 2013 to 2024 is 3.67 points. The minimum value, 3.38 points, was reached in 2024 while the maximum of 4.33 points was recorded in 2015.

North Korea: Happiness Index, 0 (unhappy) - 10 (happy): The latest value from is points, unavailable from points in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 points, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for North Korea from to is points. The minimum value, points, was reached in while the maximum of points was recorded in .