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Finland Tops Happiness Rankings; Social Media Affects Youth

3/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 2026 World Happiness Report ranks Finland as the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark.
The report notes a decline in life satisfaction among under-25s in English-speaking countries due to heavy social media use, while those online less than one hour daily report higher satisfaction.
Costa Rica ranks fourth due to strong social connections, while Afghanistan remains the least happy country.

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Story summary

The 2026 World Happiness Report ranks Finland as the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark.
The report notes a decline in life satisfaction among under-25s in English-speaking countries due to heavy social media use, while those online less than one hour daily report higher satisfaction.
Costa Rica ranks fourth due to strong social connections, while Afghanistan remains the least happy country.