By Gwurld4026 
World Happiness Report: Finland Leads, Nigeria Drops
The World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 20, 2025, has once again ranked Finland as the world’s happiest country, marking its eighth consecutive year at the top. Other Nordic nations, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, also secured top positions in the happiness rankings.
Nigeria experienced a slight decline, dropping from 102nd place in 2024 to 105th out of 147 countries in 2025. Despite this drop, Nigeria remains the 10th happiest country in Africa. Libya leads the African continent, ranking 79th globally, indicating higher life satisfaction and societal well-being amidst ongoing challenges.
The World Happiness Report evaluates countries based on various factors, including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. These metrics provide a comprehensive understanding of the well-being and happiness levels of populations worldwide.
In this year’s report, both the United Kingdom and the United States experienced significant declines, falling to their lowest positions ever at 23rd and 24th, respectively. The report highlights issues such as an increase in people dining alone and rising rates of “deaths of despair” from suicide, alcohol abuse, and drug overdose in the U.S., contributing to its lower ranking.
The report also emphasizes the importance of social support and community trust in enhancing happiness levels. Countries with strong communal bonds and mutual trust, like Finland, tend to rank higher in happiness, underscoring the significance of social cohesion in promoting well-being.
Overall, the World Happiness Report serves as a valuable tool for understanding global well-being trends and the factors that contribute to happiness across different societies.