happiest countries to live

Woman in a kayak looking at the mountains — Unsplash

If there’s truth to the saying, “Home is happiness,” then it matters where you live. According to CEOWorld Magazine’s latest Global Happiness Ranking, some countries definitely create happier conditions for its residents to live in than others.

The publication has revealed its annual happiness chart, relying on comprehensive data and research from 146 countries to determine overall contentment. It looked at things like social welfare support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceived corruption levels, giving each country a score out of 100 points.

Curious where Canada and other countries rank? Read on to discover the highlights from this year’s report.

What Are The Happiest Countries to Live in 2024?

1. Finland

This year’s happiest country received a score of 95.67 thanks to factors like strong communal support and trust. Overall, Finlanders felt as though they are free to make their own choices and trust their government. We’re sure a strong education system, good social benefits, and constant access to those Finnish saunas and Northern Lights also factor in.

2. Denmark

A close runner-up, Denmark scored 95.31 on this year’s rankings. The country scored the highest in many categories, including GDP per capita and generosity. Danes also trust their government and have strong support from their communities. Plus, let’s not forget that Denmark is where Hygge — the concept of feeling comfy, cozy, and good — originates.

3. Iceland

Iceland ranked a close third place with a score of 95.29. This makes Icelanders only slightly less happy than Finnes and Danes. They have a lot to be content with, too. There is a strong welfare state and citizens have ample access to healthcare and education. Plus, it’s a beautiful country with many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.

What Are the Least Happiest Countries to Live in 2024?

146. Eswatini

This land-locked country is located to the east of South Africa and also borders Mozambique. There is a lot of poverty and corruption reported, and Eswatini still has the world’s highest rate of HIV/AIDS. The low life expectancy rate and low GDP rates per capita also contributed to its low score of 59.95.

145. Lesotho

Another land-locked country near South Africa, Lesotho has a population of just over two million. It is classified as a middle-income country, but resources are hard to come by because of the high mountains and limited agricultural space. Life expectancy is low, and the country has dealt with corruption at the political level, resulting in a score of 60.12.

144. Kuwait

The sandy, flat country features some of the driest and harshest deserts on Earth, making it hard to come by resources. Discrimination, women’s rights, a corrupt government, and other issues contributed to the country’s overall low score of 60.64.

Is Canada a Happy Place to Live?

Canada didn’t make the Top 10, but it was pretty close with a score of 92.69. That put us in 13^th place overall, sandwiched between Australia (92.79) and Ireland (92.65). Canadians are generally satisfied with our way of living and enjoy strong social and community ties. Generosity, healthy life expectancy and the freedom to make choices also all factored into the overall score.