The United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position in the annual World Happiness Report, ranking 24th globally as younger Americans report growing feelings of isolation, diminished social support, and declining optimism about their futures.
Published Thursday, the 2025 report marks the second consecutive year the U.S. has set a new low in the rankings, falling one spot from its 23rd position last year. The report, compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, uses data collected over the past three years to evaluate self-reported happiness in more than 140 countries.
The top four slots remain firmly held by Nordic nations, with Finland ranked as the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Costa Rica and Mexico broke into the top ten, ranking sixth and tenth respectively, while Israel secured the eighth position despite ongoing conflict.
"Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth - it's about trust, connection and knowing people have your back," said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup. "If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other."
One of the key drivers behind the U.S.' declining ranking is a sharp decrease in happiness among young people under the age of 30. Julie Ray, managing editor of world news at Gallup, told Axios that younger Americans feel "less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices, and less optimistic about their living standards."
Ray highlighted that between 2020 and 2024, the percentage of young Americans who believe they have the freedom to choose how to live their lives dropped by ten points. This downward trend has persisted since the pandemic, painting a "bleak picture" for perceptions of the American Dream, she added.
The report also noted a significant increase in the number of Americans dining alone, which has risen 53% over the past two decades. Researchers argue that beyond economic indicators like GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy, simple social factors-such as sharing meals, household size, and having someone to count on-are crucial determinants of happiness.
Globally, nearly one-fifth of young adults reported in 2023 that they had no one to rely on for social support, a figure up 39% since 2006. Experts behind the report link such trends to rising loneliness and the erosion of social safety nets, particularly among younger demographics in large industrialized nations.
The U.S. was not alone in its decline. Canada and Switzerland were also identified as among the "fifteen largest losers" in this year's report. Notably, none of the world's major industrial powers ranked within the top 20, a first since the report's inception 12 years ago.
The United Kingdom, which ranked just ahead of the U.S. at 23rd, similarly recorded its lowest happiness score since 2017.
