World Happiness Report 2026: Youth Well-Being Declines as Finland Stays on Top

The World Happiness Report 2026 reveals a striking global trend: while some countries maintain high levels of happiness, young people’s life satisfaction is declining significantly.

Produced by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in collaboration with Gallup and the United Nations, the report is based on surveys from approximately 100,000 people across 140 countries.

Youth Happiness in Decline

The report highlights a sharp drop in life satisfaction among individuals under 25, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Heavy social media usage is identified as a key factor behind this decline, especially among teenage girls in Western and English-speaking nations.

The Impact of Social Media

According to the report, using social media for more than seven hours per day is associated with significantly lower well-being. Algorithm-driven feeds, image-centric platforms, and influencer culture are cited as major contributors.

Interestingly, many college students in the United States reported that they would prefer a world without social media, even though they continue using it due to social pressure.

However, moderate use—less than one hour per day—was linked to higher well-being compared to complete non-use.

Happiest Countries Ranking

Finland remains the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by other Nordic nations. Costa Rica also stands out, ranking fourth due to strong social connections and family ties.

At the lower end of the ranking, countries like Afghanistan continue to struggle with low levels of happiness.

Why Nordic Countries Lead

The dominance of Nordic countries is attributed to wealth, equality, strong welfare systems, and high life expectancy—factors that collectively contribute to overall life satisfaction.