This year ’s World Happiness Report has been released and features some glum finding for the US : For the first time since the index finger began , the nation is not outrank in the top 20 . Things seem in particular tough for young Americans whose happiness levels have fallen acutely since 2010 .
Some things never transfer , though ; Finland secured its place as the world ’s happiest country for the seventh successive clip , while the other four Nordic area – Denmark , Norway , Sweden , and Iceland – were all comfortably in the top 10 . The US cast seven places from 15 last year to 23rd , meaning for the first prison term since the ranking began 12 geezerhood ago it is not included in the top 20 .
The top 20 happy country , according tothe report , were as follows :
The only new add-on to the top 20 was Lithuania . Several other former - Soviet res publica have recently seen a hike inhappiness , particularly Serbia ( 37th ) and Bulgaria ( 81st ) which have witness the biggest step-up in their score since they were first measured in 2013 .
Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the tilt , observe by the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Zimbabwe , Sierra Leone , and Lebanon .
One of the most prominent – and worrying – findings of the report was the declining happiness of young people in sure part of the planet . On a global scale of measurement , the happiness of youngsters has increased . However , the datum suggests that the well - being of 15- to 24 - year - old has decrease in North America , Western Europe , the Middle East , North Africa , and South Asia .
Historically , young people have report higher living satisfaction than older people , but that vogue has late been revoke in North America;old folksare now happier thanyoung people . A alike trend is starting to issue in Western Europe too .
“ To think that , in some function of the world , child are already go through the eq of a mid - life crisis demand immediate policy natural process , ” he added .
It ’s not the first meter that inquiry has shown aconcerning drop in happinessamong young grownup and teenagers in North America and Europe . There are no authoritative answers to what ’s drive the trend , but normally mention gene are economical uncertainty , pathetic Book of Job prospects , political polarization , a want of meaningful social connection , and the ascending of applied science .
