A person waves a small Canadian flag at a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Canada has dropped to 18th place in the 2025 World Happiness Report, released on Thursday. The Canadian Press
Canada has slipped to 18th place in the 2025 World Happiness Report, marking its lowest-ever position. The country was once among the happiest in the world, ranking fifth in 2015. However, it has steadily declined over the years. This drop makes Canada one of the "largest losers" in happiness rankings over the past two decades.
The United States also experienced a significant decline, falling to 24th place, its worst-ever ranking. It previously peaked at 11th in 2012. The United Kingdom saw a similar trend, landing at 23rd. Meanwhile, Finland remained the happiest country for the eighth year in a row. Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden followed closely behind.
Why Are Canadians Less Happy?
The report reveals that people in Western industrial countries are generally less happy than they were between 2005 and 2010. A decade ago, the top ten happiest countries were all from this region. Now, only seven remain.
Canada’s ranking was influenced by several factors. The report assesses happiness by asking people to rate their own lives. It also uses six variables to explain the differences between countries: social support, GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
Canada performed well in some areas but fell short in others:
- Perception of corruption: 15th globally
- GDP per capita: 16th place
- Social support: 35th place
- Freedom to make life choices: 68th place
Nearly 18% of Canadians reported dissatisfaction with their freedom to make personal choices. This reflects a growing frustration with limited opportunities and increasing uncertainty.
Young Canadians Are Struggling
The decline in happiness is particularly evident among young people. According to the 2024 Canadian Happiness Report, people under 30 have seen a steady drop in life satisfaction over the past decade. Rising living costs, lack of affordable housing, and job insecurity are key factors.
Felix Cheung, a co-author of the World Happiness Report, explained that while individual unhappiness can be personal, a nation's unhappiness points to structural issues. He believes Canada should invest more in youth mental health to reverse the trend.
Social Connections Matter
The report highlights the importance of human connections in happiness. Factors like sharing meals and trusting others have a big impact. In the U.S., fewer people share meals, with many eating alone, especially younger individuals. Canada ranked 53rd globally for meal sharing, averaging 8.4 shared meals per week.
Interestingly, believing in the kindness of others is linked to happiness. The report cited a study in Toronto where people believed only 23% of lost wallets would be returned. However, over 80% were actually returned. This shows that people are more trustworthy than many expect, which can influence happiness.
Global Trends
Despite being at war with Hamas, Israel ranked 8th in the happiness report. Costa Rica and Mexico also made it into the top 10 for the first time, placing 6th and 10th, respectively. Meanwhile, Afghanistan ranked last, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
