Searching for smiles on your next vacation? You’re in luck. The 2026 World Happiness Report is out, ranking the happiest countries in the world based on six key factors to determine an overall quality of living: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and levels of corruption. This year’s study also placed a focus on social media, drawing a correlation between lower use rates and higher happiness levels. People from nearly 150 nations were surveyed and asked to analyze their lives and what made them happy. Based on their responses, here are the top 10 happiest nations in the world — including the country that tops the list for the ninth year in a row.

10. Switzerland

Happiness score: 7.018 (out of 10)

This year, Switzerland jumped up into the top 10, ascending from the No. 13 spot in 2025. Switzerland is the first of eight European countries to rank in the top 10, reflecting Europe’s continued dominance in the global happiness rankings year over year. One reason why Swiss people are so happy, according to the study, is the relatively low rate of social media use compared to other European nations. The Swiss have the 10th-lowest rate of use, at 89.1%, for those ages 16 to 24, and a usage rate of just 61.7% for those ages 25 to 64.

9. Luxembourg

Happiness score: 7.063

Luxembourg maintains the same No. 9 ranking in the happiest countries report that it had in 2025. Among the European nations surveyed, Luxembourg has the seventh-lowest rate of social media use for those ages 16 to 24, at 86%, and a 63.1% usage rate for those ages 25 to 64. Luxembourg also ranks third in the world (after Monaco and Liechtenstein) for GDP per capita, according to the International Monetary Fund.

8. Israel

Happiness score: 7.187

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country to crack the top 10, ranking No. 8 for the second year in a row. Despite the ongoing conflict in the region, the nation held steady year over year after having dropped from No. 5 in 2024 to No. 8 last year.

7. The Netherlands

Happiness score: 7.223

The Netherlands dropped two spots from No. 5 last year to No. 7 this year. People throughout the Netherlands are generally content in each category in the study, as the nation boasts a high GDP per capita (ranking 14th in the world), good levels of social support, and a reasonably high life expectancy.

6. Norway

Happiness score: 7.242

Nordic nations comprise five of the top six happiest nations in the world. In Norway’s case, this is for several reasons: strong GDP per capita (which ranks No. 9 worldwide), high levels of social support, and a life expectancy that ranks in the top 20 worldwide.

5. Sweden

Happiness score: 7.255

Sweden is another mainstay in the top five rankings of happiest countries worldwide. One of the biggest quality-of-life improvements in Sweden might be the improved internet speeds, which have experienced drastic growth over the last decade. But in general, Sweden remains happy across the board in all six major categories, from a robust social safety net to low levels of perceived corruption.

4. Costa Rica

Happiness score: 7.439

After rising from No. 12 in 2024 to No. 6 in 2025, Costa Rica jumped another two spots in the world happiness ranking this year. Despite having the lowest GDP per capita of any country in the top 10, Costa Rica makes up for that fact with strong levels of social support and freedom to make life choices. After Costa Rica, the next happiest country in the Americas is Mexico, which holds the No. 12 spot.

3. Denmark

Happiness score: 7.539

The Danes boast one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world, levels of social support that other countries envy, and lengthy life expectancies. There’s also very little perception of government corruption in Denmark; Danes typically feel they’re in good hands in terms of their leadership.

2. Iceland

Happiness score: 7.540

Iceland ranked as the third-happiest country in 2023, 2024, and 2025, but in this year’s rankings it leapt up to the No. 2 spot. Interestingly, Iceland has the highest rates of social media usage of any European country for people ages 16 to 24 (98.4%) and ages 25 to 64 (92.9%). But the seventh-highest GDP per capita in the world and the 24th-highest life expectancy make up for that fact, providing Icelanders with one of the best qualities of life around the globe.

1. Finland

Happiness score: 7.764

For the ninth year in a row, Finland has been named the world’s happiest country. The Nordic nation is in a class by itself at the top of the list, continuing to thrive in each of the six major categories. Finland’s happiness score is over six points higher than that of the lowest country on the list, Afghanistan, which has a score of 1.446.

About the data: The World Happiness Report is published in partnership with Gallup Analytics, which surveyed respondents in nearly 150 countries from 2023 to 2025 to determine the ranking. It is a publication of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup, the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the independent editorial board of World Happiness Report. Check out the 2026 full list here.