For the seventh year running, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the United Nations’ World Happiness Report. The Nordic nation has long been known for its sauna culture, but the Finns’ enduring well-being goes beyond warm rooms and cold plunges. Some Finns have told the press that their citizens aren’t exactly happy so much as content with what they have, and that work-life balance and state-funded education, childcare, and health care are crucial to the population’s overall positive frame of mind.
Finland isn’t trying to keep their keys to happiness a secret, however. “There is an old Finnish proverb that states, ‘The one who has happiness should hide it.’” said Heli Jimenez, a marketing director at Finland’s tourism department in a statement. “As the world’s happiest country since 2018, we have decided to take the old phrase and update it, making our modern motto: ‘The one who has happiness should share it.’”
In that spirit, anyone curious to try out the Finnish lifestyle for themselves is invited through April 4 to apply for a spot to visit its capital city for five days in June for “Helsinki Happiness Hacks” and learn from locals about the daily habits that underpin the Finnish lifestyle. Visit Finland is covering travel expenses for those selected, and trip highlights include restaurant tours, a walk in the woods, and a sauna rave. Winners will be announced on May 2.
Of course, Finland isn’t the only country in the high ranks of the World Happiness Report this year. Eight of the top ten happiest countries in the world are in Europe, perhaps unsurprisingly, given the region’s notable health care, stable governments, and wealth: Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. New to the top ten is Australia, and Israel dropped one spot since 2023 (the bulk of data, collected over three years, happened largely before the conflict between Israel and Gaza began on October 7, 2023).
Ratings are based on a three-year average of each population’s assessment of their quality of life. For the full list of 143 countries, check out the most recent World Happiness Report.
The United States, on the other hand, fell from 15th happiest country in 2022 to 23rd in 2023, not so much because Americans are less happy—according to the report, our country’s overall score only decreased by one-tenth of a point from last year—but because a surge in life satisfaction in other nations vaulted them above us on the list. (To check out Outside’s recent research on the happiest places to live in the U.S., read our report.) Afghanistan, once again, was the world’s unhappiest nation.
The UN project uses data from the Gallup World Poll, and considers six key components to overall life satisfaction: wealth, health, personal freedoms, generosity, freedom from corruption, and strength of social ties. The highly anticipated report, which has been released annually on March 20 for more than a decade, marks the International Day of Happiness.
For me and my colleagues at Outside, access to the outdoors is a critical piece of the happiness puzzle. Which is why the top six countries I’d be most excited to visit don’t perfectly align with the UN’s findings. Sorry, Denmark—your artificial ski hill is cool, but the slightly less elated people of New Zealand have world-class heli-skiing.
Here are six of the top fifteen happiest countries in the world that I’d be absolutely overjoyed to visit, along with intel that will spark some ideas for adventure travel there.
Finland (No. 1)
According to Statista, in 2022, approximately two-thirds of households in Finland owned and used a bicycle. (Photo: Courtesy Juho Kuva/Visit Finland)
If this video of mountain biker Erkki Punttila sailing over to ride the trails of Lemmenjoki National Park doesn’t make you want to drop everything to travel through Finland’s northern Lapland, we don’t know what to tell you. Actually, we do—consider a winter visit to explore its wilderness on skis (or even traverse the entire country), take a stroll through the forested countryside, and snack on some rye bread and fish.
Iceland (No. 3)
Feeling physically and spiritually depleted by long COVID, author and Outside contributor Pam Houston visited Iceland and its eponymous breed of horses for rejuvenation. I won’t spoil her whole uplifting story of enlightenment, but her trip did offer Houston joy and a whole lot more.
This little island often makes headlines for volcanic (and seismic) activity, but it’s also a nature-loving traveler’s dream. Beaches, mountains, glaciers, hot springs—Iceland has a bit of everything. You can go full Wim Hof and enjoy scenic (and frigid) cold plunges, opt for a warmer route at beautiful hot springs like the Instagram-famous Blue Lagoon, as well as take in the northern lights, surf Arctic waves, and hike its incredible landscape.
Switzerland (No. 9)
According to the report, Switzerland has the 13th-happiest young population in the world (those 30 years old and younger) and the 14th-happiest old populace (those 60 and older). Lithuania and Denmark topped those two categories, respectively. (Photo: Getty Images/Roberto Moiola/Sysaworld)
The Alps are home to mountain towns America and the rest of Europe still aspire to. In the winter, outdoor enthusiasts flock to Zermatt, one of the most iconic ski resorts in the world, while summertime treks are straight out of The Sound of Music.
Outside contributor Christopher Solomon recently completed the Via Valais, a 150-mile trail-running-oriented route in southwest Switzerland that was as spectacular as it was demanding. Travelers who prefer to set a slower pace can take their pick of hut-to-hut routes (don’t be fooled the nomenclature—these so-called huts often resemble alpine chalets and are fully stocked with showers, home-cooked meals and cold beer) that allow you to traverse the gorgeous peaks unencumbered by tents and camping supplies.
New Zealand (No. 11)
New Zealand’s South Island recently made our list of most exciting travel destinations in 2024, thanks in large part to its many biking and hiking trails through stunning scenery, and an uptick in new accommodations and exciting restaurants. United Airlines’ new direct flight from San Francisco to Christchurch is a major perk, too.
I’d head to Queenstown during the austral winter to get in some skiing, but a summer trek along one of the Great Walks wouldn’t exactly be a chore, either.
Costa Rica (No. 12)
Tourism is one of Costa Rica’s main sources of income, so both visitors and locals profit from the happiness it brings. (Photo: Getty Images/Westend61)
Costa Rica jumped into the top 15 happiest countries this year from 23rd place in 2023. With all of its outdoor adventures, it’s certainly a happy place for travelers. Take a surf lesson, hike the Camino de Costa Rica, do some yoga on the beach, see a sloth at a wildlife sanctuary, or just read in the sun for a few hours—there are plenty of ways to rest and restore in Costa Rica.
Although it’s one of the most expensive countries in Central America, Outside contributor Jeff Garmire and his partner managed a two-week visit in 2020 for less than $500.
Canada (No. 15)
America’s northern neighbor has a lot going for it, in terms of life satisfaction generally and outdoor recreation opportunities specifically. I’m biased toward British Columbia, which has a lot in common with my beloved childhood home of Western Washington. Rocky beaches, rugged mountains, and lush temperate rainforests are abundant, and Vancouver’s superb dining and arts scene make it the perfect spot to refuel between all the hiking, skiing, surfing, and boating nearby. There’s enough singletrack to keep even the hardest-charging mountain biker satisfied for years. Here’s the perfect itinerary to take in the scenery along the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler.
If the Canadian Rockies are more your speed, Banff lives up to the hype and is a great spot to adventure with your kiddos. Farther east, Quebec is forecast to have incredible views of the aurora borealis this year (as are the Northwest Territories, if you’re looking for an even more remote adventure).
The author in Valparaíso, Chile; the nation was ranked 38th on this year’s list. (Photo: Courtesy Miyo McGinn)
Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at Outside, and tends to be pretty happy whenever she gets the chance to travel, regardless of the destination. Her next international trip will probably be to Canada, just a few hours’ drive from her home in Bozeman, Montana.
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