Nordic nations lead happiness rankings as Finland tops the list

Finland is named the world’s happiest country for the ninth year in the World Happiness Report, which ranks nations by life evaluations based on factors such as freedom, inequality, positive/negative emotions and healthy life expectancy. The top 10 is dominated by Nordic countries, with Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands also in the mix, while Costa Rica, Israel, Luxembourg and Switzerland round out the list; the United States ranks 23rd. Many of these top destinations are visa-exempt for short stays, and Europe’s ETIAS system will require travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors to about 30 countries (including Finland) starting in late 2026.