2020 Happiness Report Results Are In

Ranking countries by their overall happiness and satisfaction levels, the 2020 Happiness Report results have been revealed as with every year on March 20th, known as International Day of Happiness.

This year, International Day of Happiness is taking place during quite an uneasy time in the current climate and as a result, is centered on how we can all find positive ways to look after ourselves and each other.

2020’s slogan is ‘Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind’ – something that the official International Day of Happiness website helps to explain as three positive steps that we can all take when facing difficult times such as these.

Along with spreading their message of showing kindness and generating positivity, Action Happiness have launched the results of the 2020 Happiness Report, a publication created by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and supported by several partners.

The report ranks countries by their happiness levels, with this year’s report taking a larger focus on the environment around us.

The 2020 Happiness Report Rankings

The table below features the final rankings for the top 20 happiest countries according to the 2020 Happiness Report results:

Rank	Country
1	Finland
2	Denmark
3	Switzerland
4	Iceland
5	Norway
6	Netherlands
7	Sweden
8	New Zealand
9	Austria
10	Luxembourg
11	Canada
12	Australia
13	United Kingdom
14	Israel
15	Costa Rica
16	Ireland
17	Germany
18	United States
19	Czech Republic
20	Belgium

Also, for the first time ever when producing this year’s World Happiness Report, the research team studied the happiest cities from around the world.

The results were:

Rank	City
1	Helsinki, Finland
2	Aarhus, Denmark
3	Wellington, New Zealand
4	Zurich, Switzerland
5	Copenhagen, Denmark
6	Bergen, Norway
7	Oslo, Norway
8	Tel Aviv, Israel
9	Stockholm, Sweden
10	Brisbane, Australia

The Importance of the World Happiness Report

Commenting more on how the report is a valuable way in which to establish how social, urban and natural environments combine in order to affect our overall sense of happiness, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of Sustainable Development Solutions Network, explains:

“The World Happiness Report has proven to be an indispensable tool for policymakers looking to better understand what makes people happy.

Time and again we see the reasons for wellbeing include good social support networks, social trust, honest governments, safe environments and healthy lives.”

Summarizing what best makes for a happy social environment, inside and outside of work, Professor John F. Helliwell of the University of British Columbia adds:

“A happy social environment is one where people feel a sense of belonging, where they trust each other and their shared institutions.

There is also more resilience, because shared trust reduces the burden of hardships, and thereby lessens the inequality of well-being.”

To view the 2020 World Happiness Report in full, click here.