This List Reveals The 20 Happiest Countries In The World

No matter where people have lived this year, it’s been a hard one. So hard that many people report widespread feelings of anxiety and depression.

And it’s not hard to see why: social isolation and millions of people across the world dying and sickened of COVID-19 has made it a tough year. But apparently, there were still countries that had a better go of it emotionally than others — and the World Happiness Report has compiled a data-driven list of the happiest, and most unhappy, countries in 2020 across the world.They retooled their survey to more accurately reflect the changes that COVID-19 has brought on the world writ large. Usually, the list, which launched in 2012, has been compiled using key data points from GDP, life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and more. These key data sets are still important.But data was also focused on how COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our wellbeing. Surprisingly enough, the list didn’t shift too much from the previous year, suggesting that countries that invest in their workers’ wellbeing and provide a broad swath of social support also did better when it comes to helping their citizens weather the pandemic. Researchers, per CNN, think this may be because COVID-19 is viewed as a common threat — one that affects everyone — which has created a sense of solidarity among humans walking the Earth, no matter where they live.Still, there were some upsets. The United States, somehow, became a little bit happier, jumping from the 18th position to the 14th in terms of happiest countries in the world. Germany, also, jumped up drastically, moving from 17th place to seventh. The list has 149 countries featured in the report. Here are the top 20 happiest countries — and the 20 most unhappy countries.

Here Are the 20 Happiest Countries in the World, Ranked

• 1. Finland
• 2. Iceland
• 3. Denmark
• 4. Switzerland
• 5. Netherlands
• 6. Sweden
• 7. Germany
• 8. Norway
• 9. New Zealand
• 10. Austria
• 11. Israel
• 12. Australia
• 13. Ireland
• 14. United States
• 15. Canada
• 16. Czech Republic
• 17. Belgium
• 18. United Kingdom
• 19. Taiwan Province of China
• 20. France

Here Are The 20 Most Unhappy Countries in the World, Ranked

• 130. Swaziland
• 131. Comoros
• 132. Egypt
• 133. Ethiopia
• 134. Mauritania
• 135. Madagascar
• 136. Togo
• 137. Zambia
• 138. Sierra Leone
• 139. India
• 140. Burundi
• 141. Yemen
• 142. Tanzania
• 143. Haiti
• 144. Malawi
• 145. Lesotho
• 146. Botswana
• 147. Rwanda
• 148. Zimbabwe
• 149. Afghanistan

You can read the full report here.