The coveted list of the happiest countries on the planet have been announced, and Canada is ranking in the top 20, but has slipped in the rankings from last year.
Despite ranking one of the world’s best places to travel alone in 2025, and the world’s second most desirable country, the country ranked lower down on the happiness list this year.
The World Happiness Report 2025 focused on the impact of caring and sharing on people’s happiness.
Where does Canada rank in the Happiest Countries in the World for 2025?
Canada was ranked the 18th happiest country in the world according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, dropping from 15th in 2023 and fifth in 2011.
A notable decrease in self-reported quality of life among Canadians was reported, falling from 7.5 out of 10 in 2011 to approximately 6.8 in 2024.
Canada ranked in the top 10 in 2013, coming in at number 6.
This year’s report, centered on the theme of caring and sharing, highlighted general pessimism around people's willingness to help others.
However, studies cited in the report challenged this perception. For example, researchers who dropped wallets on streets in cities worldwide found that people were significantly more likely to return them than survey respondents had predicted.
The rankings, based on thousands of Gallup survey responses from 147 countries and regions, reflect how people rated their own lives, averaged over three years.
Experts supported the analysis with economic and psychological insights, considering factors such as per-capita GDP, health and life expectancy, social connections, and national perceptions.
Which is the happiest country in the world in 2025?
What is the top 10 happiest country?
Top 10 happiest countries in the world according to this study is:
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Sweden
5. Israel
6. Netherlands
7. Norway
8. Luxembourg
9. Switzerland
10. Australia
Why are Canadians so happy?
Aside from maple syrup and our natural resources, here are some key facts from the survey re: what makes Canadians so happy:
When it came to meal sharing by country, residents in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia were much more likely to eat dinner with others than they are to share lunches.
More people are choosing to live without children, and couples without children are prevalent in OECD countries, ranging from 15% in Poland and Slovenia to 26% in Canada.
For more information about The World Happiness Report 2025, click here.
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