NPR

Life's Nice In The Nordic Ice: Finland, Neighbors Top U.N. Happiness Index

The Finns took No. 1 on the annual World Happiness Report, while perennial leaders Norway and Denmark weren't far behind. Meanwhile, the study devoted a chapter to the decline of happiness in the U.S.
A fan waves the Finnish flag during the Nordic World Ski Championships last year. Finland is No. 1 on the annual World Happiness Report, released Wednesday.

Sure, Norway may have dominated the Winter Games last month in Pyeongchang, handily sweeping the Olympic medal count — but the country has just been knocked from its perch atop another international ranking: the World Happiness Report. The country's Nordic neighbor, Finland, has unseated the Norwegians with a smile.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR6 min readInternational Relations
What To Know About A Possible Israeli Military Offensive In Rafah
In Gaza's southernmost city, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter and where aid groups have centralized operations, worries have grown over a possible Israeli military operation.
NPR10 min read
Happy Arbor Day! These 20 Books Will Change The Way You Think About Trees
Trees communicate. They migrate. They protect. They heal. We climbed into the NPR archives to find some of our favorite arboreal fiction, nonfiction, and kids' lit — get ready to branch out.
NPR2 min readAmerican Government
Amazon Warehouse Workers In Alabama Might Get A Third Try At Unionizing
Federal officials threw out the first vote, ruling that Amazon improperly interfered. The results of the second vote remain inconclusive. The federal government now determines what happens next.

Related Books & Audiobooks