Who’s happy Now? Scanning the headlines for the results of the latest Word Happiness Report

All five Nordic countries and Costa Rica occupy the top slots on the latest World Happiness Survey, but life satisfaction of those under 25 in English countries has dropped sharply in the past 10 years. What’s going on? This scan of the headlines from around the world gives a glimpse of the results from the latest World Happiness survey and explores the relationship between children’s social media use and happiness. For other recent stories from IEN about children’s wellbeing see: Could concerns about the academic pressure on students in China lead to real changes in conventional schooling? Stability & change in the education system in China (Part 4), Engagement, Wellbeing, and Innovation in the Wake of the School Closures in Vietnam: A Conversation with Chi Hieu Nguyen (Part 2); A view from Poland (Part 2) – Jacek Pyżalski discusses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, teachers and wellbeing; Thirteen insights into teacher wellbeing and mental health in England; Headlines around the world: PISA (2015) Well-Being Report

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World Happiness Report 2026

Mapped: The Happiest Countries in the World, Visual Capitalist

Ranked: The World’s Richest Countries vs. the Happiest Countries, Visual Capitalist

A Nordic nation is the world’s happiest country for the ninth year in a row, CNN

The 25 Happiest Countries In The World, According To The 2026 World Happiness Report, Forbes

World Happiness Report highlights social media’s negative impact, ranks Finland as happiest country, NBC News

The 2026 rankings mark the second year in a row that none of the English-speaking countries appear in the top 10. The United States is at 23rd place, Canada is at 25th and Britain at 29th.

Social media makes people unhappy — World Happiness Report, Deutsche Welle

What the World Happiness Report reveals about social media and the world’s happiest country, AP

“Heavy social media use contributes to a stark decline in well-being among young people, with the effects particularly worrying in teenage girls in English-speaking countries and Western Europe, according to the World Happiness Report 2026.”

Australia

Australia falls to new low in World Happiness Rankings, 9 News

Canada

Where Canada falls on the 2026 World Happiness Report, CTV News

Canada slipped to 25th place after coming 18th last year, finishing behind the 23rd-ranked United States…In the 2015 report, Canada ranked fifth but has since steadily declined, with 25th place marking its lowest ranking since the report was launched in 2012.

Cyprus

Cyprus falls to 62nd in world happiness ranking as decade-long slide continues, In-Cyprus Phile News

Finland

Finland ranks as “world’s happiest country” for 9th year in a row, YLE

“All five Nordic countries are in the top six, with Iceland and Denmark close behind Finland. In fourth place is Costa Rica, the highest ranking ever for a Latin American country. Sweden and Norway are in fifth and sixth places.”

France

‘Harm at a population level’: World Happiness Report flags social media’s negative impact, France24

Germany

World Happiness Report: Finland tops the list – where does Germany stand? Deutschland

Greece

Greece and Cyprus Slide in 2026 World Happiness Report, Greek Reporter

India

World Happiness Report 2026: Finland and Afghanistan maintain top and bottom positions respectively; India improves ranking, The Times of India

World Happiness Report: Only place Pakistan is ‘smiling,’ India at 116, Herald GOA

The latest World Happiness Report has once again highlighted the stark contrast in happiness levels across South Asia. India, ranking 116th, trails behind its neighbouring country Pakistan, which sits at 104, and even war-affected nations such as Iran (97th). Other neighbours fared differently, with Bangladesh at 127, Sri Lanka at 134, Afghanistan at 147, and Nepal at 134.

Israel

Despite war, Israel ranks 8th in global happiness survey, same as last year, Times of Israel

Luxembourg

Luxembourg ranks ninth among world’s happiest countries, Luxembourg Times

Netherlands

Dutch drop in World Happiness ranking, social media aid decline, Dutch News

New Zealand

Kiwis aged 15-24 lag in world happiness rankings, 1 News

“The report suggested that higher levels of social media usage was linked to lower wellbeing, particularly when use was heavy and more passive, such as browsing or “doom scrolling” rather than active communication.”

Philippines

Philippines inches up to 56th in global happiness index, B World Online

Romania

World Happiness Report 2026: Finland tops ranking for ninth year, Romania climbs one place, Romania Insider