Why Finland keeps winning at happiness and what we can learn
The 2025 World Happiness Report is out, and once again, Finland has claimed the top spot.
Let’s dig into why, and what we can learn from it.
First, a quick word on how happiness is measured (skip ahead if data’s not your thing):
Countries are ranked based on people’s self-assessed life evaluations, averaged over the past three years via the Gallup World Poll. Researchers argue that life evaluation is the most stable and informative measure for international comparisons, as it reflects overall quality of life more consistently than daily emotional reports.
Six key factors shape each country’s happiness ranking:
GDP per capita
Social support (having someone to count on)
Healthy life expectancy
Freedom (sense of choice in life decisions)
Generosity (frequency of donations/helping others)
Perceived corruption (in government and business)
So why does Finland keep landing at #1?
This is Finland’s eighth year in a row at the top. Other Nordic countries like Sweden and Denmark are not far behind. For context: Canada ranks 18th, and the U.S. 24th.
So what’s Finland’s secret?
To oversimplify: “We > Me.”
Finland’s culture emphasizes collective well-being over individual gain. It’s a society built on high trust, strong social safety nets, and prosocial behavior. People trust their institutions and each other. Social benefits like healthcare and education are universal, not just for the privileged. And interestingly, Finland scores highest on both expected and actual benevolence, which turns out to be a significant driver of well-being.
What can we take from this, practically and personally?
Even if you don’t live in Finland (or a Nordic country), we can still learn a lot from the Finnish way of living:
Don’t underestimate the kindness around you. Research shows that thinking others are less kind than they actually are reduces your own happiness.
Get outside. You might not have the Northern Lights, but a walk in your neighborhood or five minutes of birdwatching can do wonders.
Help others, and notice when others do too. Volunteer, donate, hold the door open. Generosity boosts happiness for the receiver and the giver.
Eat with others. People who regularly share meals with others are happier than those who eat alone. Shared meals boost happiness. And if you work remotely? Don’t shy away from a camera-on lunch. It still counts.
Support family-friendly policies. Parental leave, paid time off, accessible healthcare, and affordable education don’t just help individuals, they lift entire communities. Vote for them. Advocate for them at work. Normalize using them yourself.
Especially in the U.S., our “me > we” culture runs deep, so I get it if some of these ideas feel uncomfortable or even disagreeable.
But this isn’t a debate between individualism or collectivism. It’s simply an invitation to reflect.
What might shift for us if we made a little more room for kindness, care, and connection?
Because the data show us that investing in communities, designing for equity, and appreciating small moments of benevolence and beauty are powerful levers for well-being.
We don’t all need to move to Helsinki to be happier. We just need to make a few more intentional shifts toward we > me.
Watch out, Finland. We’re catching on.
