Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World 2022

Happiness is one of the things that is difficult to measure but the UN has been measuring the happiness level of every country in the world since 2012. Every year, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network publishes the World Happiness Report which is a study that investigates the connections between development and happiness. 

The UN cull data from 6 areas including life expectancy, GDP per capita, trust and corruption, generosity, social support and perceived freedom to make life decisions. The ranking for the happiest countries in the world is done by rating the quality of life on a scale from 0 to 10. 

Every country wants to make it in the list of happiest countries in the world but very few of them can actually make it.  So, today we have listed the top 10 happiest countries in the world from the World Happiness Report 2022 that was recently released.

Here is the list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world 2022:

10. Austria

Austria is an East Alpine landlocked country in the southern part of Central Europe. The capital city of Austria is Vienna which is also the largest city in Austria. It is composed of 9 federated states including its capital city. 

It is surrounded by the Czech Republic in the north, Germany in the northwest, Slovakia and Italy in the south and Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the west. Austria’s total area is about 83,879 sq km (32,386 sq mi). In Austria, nearly 9 million people live. The official language of the country is German. 

Austria takes the place that was occupied by Australia last year, rising one spot from last year (this is the first time that Australia can’t make it to top 10 since the UN began ranking the happiest countries in the world in 2012). It has low inequality rates and unemployment with high income per capita and life expectancy.  

9. New Zealand

New Zealand is the southwestern Pacific Ocean island country. It covers a total area of 103,500 sq mi (268,021 sq km) which comprises 2 main landmasses with 600 smaller islands. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand while Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. 

New Zealand’s total population is about 5 million. It is a developed country that ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance like education, quality of life, government transparency, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom. It is a member of the UN, the Pacific Community, ASEAN Plus Six, Pacific Islands Forum, and many other organizations.  

New Zealand maintains the 8th position for the 2nd year among the happiest countries in the world. The people of this country take their happiness seriously and take quick action when something threatens their happiness. 

8. Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a landlocked country in the Western part of Europe that is surrounded by Germany in the east, Belgium in the west, and the north and France in the south. The capital Luxembourg City of Luxembourg is one of the 4th European Union’s official capitals. 

It is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe with a total area of 998 sq mi (2,586 sq km) and it is also one of the least-populous countries in Europe with a population of 626,108 as of 2019. But, it is one of the countries with the highest population growth rate.

Luxembourg is one of the world’s developed countries with an advanced economy and one of the highest GDP per capita countries in the world. It is one of the founding members of the OECD, European Union, NATO, UN and Benelux. As of 202, the Luxembourgish passport ranks 5th in the world.  

Just 4 years ago, Luxembourg was 20th in the happiest countries in the world ranking but just after 4 years, it made into the top 10. Not only, it is one of the happiest countries in the world, it is also listed among the richest countries in the world.

7. Sweden

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe that is surrounded by Finland in the east, Norway in the west and the north and it is connected in the southwest to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Oresund Strait. It is the largest country in Northern Europe and 5th largest country in Europe with a total area of 450,295 sq km (173,860 sq mi). 

Sweden’s capital is Stockholm and it has a population of 10.3 million people. It has the 11th highest per capita income in the world and ranks high in health, education, quality of life, protection of civil liberties, income equality, economic competitiveness, human development, and gender equality.  

Sweden is consistently ranking high in the top 10 happiest countries in the world due to its strong social support networks, affluence, perceived honesty and accountability of its institutions. Sweden is holding 7th position in the list from 2018.    

6. Norway

Norway is a Northern European Nordic country that has a total area of 385,207 sq km (148,729 sq mi). It is surrounded by Russia and Finland in the north-east, Skagerrak in the south, and Denmark on the other side and it shares an eastern border with Sweden. It has a total population of more than 5 million and its official language is Norwegian.

Norway is the largest oil and natural gas producer outside of the Middle East on a per capita basis. On the World Bank and IMF lists, it has the world’s 4th highest per capita income. With US$1 trillion, it has the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world. Norway was also ranked in 1st position in the list of happiest countries in the world. Norway also ranks in the world’s lowest crime rate countries.

5. Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is located in the western part of Europe and partly in the Caribbean. It is surrounded by Germany in the east, the North Sea in the northwest, and Belgium in the south. The capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam and it is also the most populous city of the Netherlands. 

The Netherlands covers a total area of 41,865 sq km (16,164 sq mi). It is home to more than 17 million people. In 2001, it became the 1st country that legalizes same-sex marriage. It is the world’s 13th highest per capita income. The Netherlands also ranks high in international indexes of economic freedom, press freedom, human development, and happiness as well as the quality of life.    

 The people of the Netherlands are more educated, affluent, and freer to make their own choices about life than at any time in the history of the country. They are so obsessed with their way of living that they have eradicated angst in their teenage. 

4. Iceland

Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic that has a total area of 40,000 sq mi (103,000 sq km) with a total population of 364,134 which makes it Europe’s most sparsely populated country. Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. Its official language is Icelandic.  

Not only Iceland rank high in the happiest countries in the world but it also ranks high in democratic, economic, equality, and social stability and also ranks 3rd in median wealth per adult in the world list. It was ranked 6th in the world’s most developed country and 1st on the Global Peace Index in 2018. 

Iceland is the world’s best country for gender equality by the World Economic Forum and the most peaceful country in the world by the Institute for Economics and Peace. It ranks so close to the top in the UN index due to its low taxes, enchanting landscapes, and free healthcare and education.

3. Switzerland

Switzerland is a landlocked country that is located in the confluence of Central, Western, and Southern Europe. It is surrounded by Germany in the north, France in the west, Italy in the south and Liechtenstein, and Austria in the east.

It has a total area of 41,285 sq km (15,940 sq mi) with a population of more than 8 million. Bern is the capital of Switzerland while Zurich is the largest city.

Switzerland slowly started losing its position after conquering the 1st position in the 2015’s happiest countries in the world.

It is one of the world’s most developed countries with the 8th highest per capita gross domestic product and the highest nominal wealth per adult.

The healthy life expectancy is great in Switzerland along with the freedom to make different life choices.

It was ranked 1st in attracting skilled workers by IMD in 2019 while in the 5th position for the most competitive countries globally by the World Economic Forum.  

2. Denmark

Denmark is a country in Northern Europe that lies south of Norway, southwest of Sweden, and is surrounded by Germany in the south. It covers a total area of 16,577 sq mi (42,933 sq km) with a total population of 5.8 million estimated as of 2022. Its capital and largest city is Copenhagen while the official language is Danish. 

Denmark is one of the world’s most socially and economically developed countries. It has a high standard of living. Denmark also ranks high in some metrics of national performance such as health care, education, democratic governance, protection of civil liberties, prosperity, LGBT equality, and human development. 

Denmark has secured 2nd position among the happiest countries in the world for the 3rd year in a row. It also topped the list in 2012, 2013 and 2016. It has the world’s 11th highest HDI, one of the highest personal income tax rates in the world and one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.   

1. Finland

Finland is a country that is situated in Europe’s Nordic region and is surrounded by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east. The capital city of Finland is Helsinki and the official language is Finnish and Swedish. Finland has a total population of 5.5 million who are living in a total area of 338,424 sq km (130,666 sq mi).  

Finland is the 8th largest European country and it is also Europe’s 25th most populous country. It was ranked 1st in the Press Freedom Index and the World Human Capital in the year 2015 and it was the world’s most stable country from 2011 to 2016 in the Fragile States Index. 

Finland ranks number one for the 3rd year in a row in the list of the happiest countries in the world. Not only this, but it also ranks among the world’s top education systems. The people of Finland enjoy low corruption levels, high standards of living, and more forest per sq mi.

Final Words

So that’s it for today’s article, guys. These are the countries that are successful in achieving the highest level of happiness.

According to the Jeffrey Sachs, who is the economist at Columbia University, all these happiest countries have one thing in common that is they are all highly taxed than the unhappiest countries in the world.

We hope you have got enough information about the happiest countries in the world and enjoy reading it. And don’t forget to tell us about whether your country makes in the top 10 or not in the comment box. Thank You.