Finland Again Tops World's Happiest Nations; US Continues Slide

Thought Question: Where is the place that makes you happiest, and what do you love about it?

Want to find the world’s happiest people? Look no further than Finland.

The Scandinavian country once again claimed the top spot on Gallup’s World Happiness Report (WHR). It was published Thursday. Finland has claimed the No. 1 ranking for eight straight years. The US, by comparison, continued its downward slide. It came in 24th. That's its lowest-ever spot on the Report. The decline, Gallup says, is caused in part by discontent among young people.

“Americans younger than age 30 (are) feeling worse about their lives,” Ilana Ron-Levey told CNN. She is Gallup’s managing director. “Today’s young people report feeling less supported by friends and family, less free to make life choices, and less optimistic about their living standards.”

The polling center has published the WHR annually since 2012. It draws from Gallup World Poll data from more than 140 countries. Participants are asked to score their lives on a happiness scale. The report breaks down responses in six categories. They are GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity/kindness, and perceptions of corruption.

“Nordic countries like Finland continue to benefit from ... high-quality health, education, and social support systems. Inequality of wellbeing is also low,” Ron-Levey noted. Finland is joined in the top 10 happiest countries by nearby Denmark (2), Iceland (3), Sweden (4), the Netherlands (5), and Norway (7). Rounding out the list are Costa Rica (6), Israel (8), Luxembourg (9), and Mexico (10).

Again last on the list at 147th was Afghanistan. It remains under the harsh rule of the Taliban regime.