Albania, the unhappiest country in Europe due to high corruption and "lack" of friends

Albania ranked 89th in the 2025 Happiness Index, a United Nations publication on March 20, which is the Day of Happiness.

The World Happiness Report 2025, published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, provides a comprehensive look at the level of happiness around the world, based on data from over 140 countries.

In Europe, Albania is only behind Turkey, with the latter being the unhappiest country in Europe. The happiest country in the region is Kosovo, 29th in the world, followed by Serbia, which ranks 31st, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 56th, Montenegro in 71st, and North Macedonia, in 86th.

– The report is based on several key indicators to measure a country's happiness:

– Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: A measure of the average income of citizens.

Social support: Assessing whether individuals have someone they can rely on in times of need.

– Healthy life expectancy: The average years of healthy life that an individual is expected to live.

– Freedom to make life decisions: The extent to which individuals feel free to choose their own path in life.

– Generosity: The tendency of citizens to donate to charity.

– Perception of corruption: Perception of the level of corruption in government and business.

Albania is penalized by corruption, ranking 114th. The second most negatively ranked indicator is social support, in 111th place, and then generosity, where we rank 72nd. Albania ranks better in the indicator of freedom to make life decisions, 34th, and per capita income in 65th place.

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Finland remains the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, while the US has fallen to 24th place, marking its lowest ranking yet in the World Happiness Report 2025.

“Nordic countries like Finland continue to benefit from universally available and high-quality systems of health, education, and social support. Inequality in well-being is also low,” said Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup.

The ranking of the top four countries has remained unchanged from 2024:

Finland

Denmark

Iceland

Sweden

Meanwhile, Norway has again held on to 7th place.

According to John Helliwell, in addition to strong social support systems, the people themselves also play a key role in Finland's high ranking.

“A welfare state doesn’t find and return lost wallets,” Helliwell said, referring to a study showing that Nordic countries are among those where lost wallets are most often returned to their owners. “These are individuals who care about the community in which they live.”

Another factor influencing Finland's success is the sense of unity and trust that was strengthened during the Winter War of 1939-40, also known as the Soviet-Finnish War.

Latin America enters the Top 10 for the first time

Two Latin American countries entered the top ten happiest countries in the world for the first time:

Costa Rica (6th place)

Mexico (10th place)

“Both countries have strong social networks and a strong sense of trust in the economy and institutions,” Ron-Levey said.

The US's fall in global happiness rankings

 

After dropping out of the Top 20 for the first time last year, the United States now ranks 24th in the World Happiness Report 2025.

 

“The decline in happiness in the U.S. in 2024 is partly due to the fact that young people under the age of 30 feel less happy,” Ron-Levey said. “Young people today report feeling less supported by friends and family, having less freedom to make life choices, and being less optimistic about their standard of living.”

 

Last year's report paid particular attention to changes in the happiness of different age groups, highlighting a significant decline in happiness among young people in many countries.

 

The challenges of happiness in English-speaking countries

 

The United States isn't the only English-speaking country facing challenges in happiness. The United Kingdom, which ranks 23rd, recorded its lowest quality of life rating since 2017. Meanwhile, Canada, which has experienced a decline in happiness over the past decade, managed to remain in the Top 20, ranking 18th.

 

Although the factors that influence happiness are complex, there is a simple "cure" that is within everyone's reach, according to researcher John Helliwell.

 

"Look with more kindness at the people you work with, live with, and meet on the street. This change in perspective will affect your behavior in traffic, in political discussions, and in every aspect of life," he said.

 

One way to improve well-being is to talk less and listen more, which helps create a more positive attitude and strengthen cooperation between people.

 

“Negativity is the poison of happiness,” Helliwell concludes.

 

The least happy countries in the world

 

At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan (147th) remains the least happy country in the world. Sierra Leone (146), Lebanon (145), Malawi (144) and Zimbabwe (143) make up the bottom five countries on this happiness list.