The Happiest Countries in 2026: Western Europe Is Growing Gloomier, Latin America Surges into the Top

The new World Happiness Report 2026 has recorded major global changes. Western countries are losing ground, while Eastern Europe and Latin America are emerging as new “capitals of happiness.” The study covers 147 countries and evaluates people’s quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10 based on Gallup surveys. At the same time, the gap between the happiest and the unhappiest countries remains огромный – more than six points.

Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World

Nordic countries continue to dominate. Finland remains in first place for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark in second and third. Sweden and Norway rank fifth and sixth respectively.

In contrast, Western Europe is seeing a decline, with most countries in this part of the continent losing positions, although the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland still remain in the top 10 of the happiness index.

The biggest surprise of the year is Costa Rica. Last year, it became the first Latin American country to enter the top ten, and now it has climbed to fourth place globally.

It is also worth noting that Israel has maintained its leading position despite ongoing wars affecting the region for the third year in a row.

Overall, the top ten happiest countries in the world are:

1. Finland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Costa Rica

5. Sweden

6. Norway

7. Netherlands

8. Israel

9. Luxembourg

10. Switzerland

As mentioned, Finland remains the clear leader in Europe, Costa Rica in Central America, and Israel in the Middle East.

In Australia and Oceania, the happiest country is New Zealand, ranking 11th globally; in North America, Mexico (12th); in Southeast Asia, Taiwan (26) and Singapore (36); in South America, Uruguay (31); in Central Asia, Kazakhstan (33); in Africa, Mauritius (73), and on the African continent overall, Libya (81).

In the post-Soviet region, the Baltic EU countries remain the happiest, with Lithuania (28) ranking the highest among them. Among former Soviet states outside the EU, Kazakhstan ranks the highest, making it the happiest country in Central Asia.

Top 10 Unhappiest Countries in the World

At the other end of the ranking are countries facing conflict, poverty, and political instability.

Afghanistan has for many years remained the country with the lowest level of life satisfaction. The bottom ten includes African countries (Tanzania, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Sierra Leone), as well as two Middle Eastern countries – Lebanon and Yemen.

The ten countries with the lowest levels of happiness are:

1. Afghanistan

2. Sierra Leone

3. Malawi

4. Zimbabwe

5. Botswana

6. Yemen

7. Lebanon

8. DR Congo

9. Egypt

10. Tanzania

Alongside Afghanistan, which has long ranked last (and is the unhappiest country in Central Asia), the lowest levels of happiness are also found in Sierra Leone (the unhappiest in Africa) and Yemen (in the Middle East).

In Southeast Asia, Myanmar has the lowest ranking. Ukraine is the unhappiest country not only among post-Soviet states but also in Europe overall, Venezuela in South America, Trinidad and Tobago in Central America, and Canada (!) in North America.

The report’s authors did not calculate happiness levels for many island states in Australia and Oceania.

Global Trends

Among world regions, happiness is growing fastest in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in former socialist countries. The Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Kosovo are already in the global top 20.

Latin America is also on the rise. In addition to Costa Rica’s breakthrough, Mexico (12th) is in the top twenty, and Belize (27) has been improving in recent years.

The West is losing ground. The United States, Canada, Australia, and several European countries that were at the top 10–15 years ago are now showing a decline in happiness levels.

Youth Is No Longer the Happiest

The most alarming trend is that the sharpest decline in happiness is seen among young people, especially in English-speaking countries. This trend has been building for nearly a generation – over the past 20 years.

One reason is the impact of the digital environment. Social media is changing how people perceive life, often for the worse. The study shows that heavy social media use is associated with lower life satisfaction, especially among Generation Z.

Another factor is the weakening of social connections, leading to lower trust in institutions and other people, particularly in Western countries, which directly affects happiness levels.

The United States has failed to make the top 20 happiest countries for the fourth consecutive year, while Canada has been outside the top twenty for many years.

The World Is Becoming Happier, but Not for Everyone

Overall, the trend remains positive: nearly twice as many countries have improved their scores as those that have declined.

However, the global picture is becoming more complex. Traditional leaders are gradually losing their advantage, new regions are moving ahead, and happiness increasingly depends not only on the economy but also on the quality of social connections, trust, and the digital environment.

Money still matters, but the decisive factor is how much people feel supported, safe, and connected to society, conclude experts at International Investment.