The World Happiness Report is out, and the Nordic countries have again topped the list. Finland has been the top-ranked country for the past seven years straight.
Finland has once again been ranked as the happiest country in the world.
The report is based on global survey data from over 140 countries. Countries are ranked on happiness based on their average life evaluations over the previous three years, in this case, 2021-2023. The report is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an editorial board.
A significant part of this is due to Finland’s mechanisms in place, which make certain areas of life less stressful – education is generally free, time off work is available, and health care coverage is guaranteed. Furthermore, the country is significantly smaller than the United States (its population is less than that of New York City), which makes some things easier.
Beyond these institutions, Finnish people have habits and beliefs that allow them to consistently rank at the top of the World Happiness Report list.
Why is Finland the happiest country in the world?
1. Emotional honesty
In the United States (and many other nations), responding to “How are you?” with “good” or “fine” is considered appropriate. Some people dislike it when you go into too much detail about your difficulty, while others are uneasy.
In Finland, though, there is much less compulsory positivity. “There is more tolerance in saying, ‘it’s not ok’ or ‘I’m not feeling fine,’” said Meri Larivaara, the director of strategic affairs at MIELI Mental Health Finland.
Larivaara said that this is an observation based on time spent in both the United States and Finland. However, some of Finland’s overall pleasure may be due to its emotional honesty.
Overall, we understand that suppressing your feelings serves no purpose. You’ll probably feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, and a touch trapped. According to several studies, suppressing emotions can reduce social connectivity and increase the risk of early mortality.
2. Work-life balance is prioritized
While individuals in Finland work hard, their job hours are generally acceptable, allowing most people to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
“It gives you time to relax in your everyday life and gives you time to take care of yourself,” Larivaara said.
Finally, there is time for non-work activities, according to Mirka Hintsanen, a psychology professor at the University of Oulu.
Juho Saari, dean of the faculty of Tampere University’s social sciences department, noted that most people don’t have a long drive to work, which improves their job satisfaction and the amount of free time they have each day.
3. Plenty of access to nature
The country has legislation known as Everyman’s Right, which allows Finns to freely access practically every forest, lake, and beach region, according to Saari. This means that camping, berry picking, mushroom picking, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, and skiing are all free in certain public areas.
Hintsanen said that you’re always close to nature in Finland, whether you’re in one of the major cities or small towns. “There’s nature everywhere,” she said.
“There are studies that nature actually reduces stress, and that’s also connected to happiness — [when] you have less stress, it’s easier to be happy,” Hintsanen noted. So, taking a walk in a nearby park can help you channel this Finnish happiness tip.
4. Developing new abilities is encouraged
“We are eager to develop ourselves,” Larivaara said, and ”learning new things is good for your mental health.” She said this doesn’t have to mean learning a new language or a work task, it can be more simple tasks like trying out a new recipe or taking a class on how to sail.
Saari said that Finland has a lot of associations where individuals may share hobbies, ranging from yoga to pottery workshops. He stated that joining these associations is affordable and allows people to learn new skills.
Additionally, learning new things makes time seem more plentiful. Adrian Bejan, a mechanical engineering professor at Duke University, recently told HuffPost that when you break out of your daily routine and reflect on your month or year, time feels longer and you feel like you made the most of your days.
5. A trustworthy society
“It is a tiny country, people build networks between different people, and there is what is called the ‘strength of weak ties,’” he said.
As previously stated, America is much, much larger than Finland, making across-the-board trust difficult in the U.S., but you may still surround yourself with a trusting circle of people.
Saari believes that investing in your social relationships has a significant impact on happiness.
“There is plenty of research [that says] getting rid of loneliness is one of the most important things” when it comes to feeling fulfilled, he explained. In fact, a 2021 study discovered that “loneliness is considered one of the strongest negative predictors of life satisfaction”—and personal ties with people are required for a successful existence.
Spending time with the friends and family who fill your cup can increase your overall sense of contentment. Cherish those relationships, check in with them, and continue to strengthen the bonds you have.
6. Contentment over happiness
“If you go more toward the emotional experience of happiness, I suppose culturally in Finland, happiness doesn’t need to mean that very intense emotion of happiness,” Larivaara said. “Our concept is more like a constant feeling of being content with your life” and what you have.
It’s more of a quiet feeling, Larivaara explained. “So, maybe it’s easier to be happy in that way than it would be if you seek intense feelings and intense experiences of happiness all the time,” she added.
Saari agreed and said that people in Finland have a high level of life satisfaction. ”[In the] World Happiness Report, they don’t ask whether people are happy, they ask whether they are satisfied with their lives.”
Instead of seeking bliss, focus on finding things in your life that make you happy, such as a good cup of coffee or a reliable car. Keep these feelings in mind throughout the day and seek out other pleasant reminders.
Outside factors too have an impact on happiness
“I think in Western culture, we talk about happiness often, that it’s the individual’s responsibility to live your life such that you can be happy,” Hintsanen said. “We have an illusion that if you do everything right, then you’re happy, and it’s your sole responsibility.”
There is some truth to that, she added, but it is not only an individual who determines their happiness; it is also their surroundings, life circumstances, and social decisions.
For example, if you are a teacher and your local district reduces all teachers’ salaries, your happiness will most likely suffer. But the wage cut decision was beyond your control. So, as important as it is to attempt and do things that affect your mood, it is not entirely up to you.
“We can’t just make it only the individual’s responsibility, and I think it’s also good for everybody to remember that. There are also other things than just [the] individual,” Hintsanen added.
