A study featured in this year's World Happiness Report reveals that individuals underestimate the kindness of strangers, indicating a stronger bond between trust and happiness than previously recognized. The annual report released on Thursday evaluated global happiness by analyzing wallet return rates as a measure of trust—showing that returned wallets were nearly twice as prevalent as anticipated.
According to John F. Helliwell, an economist and founding editor of the report, the findings illustrate that happiness is heightened in communities where mutual care is perceived. The ongoing trend of underestimating benevolence was noted, emphasizing that wallets are more likely to be returned than people assume.
For the eighth consecutive year, Finland ranks as the happiest country globally with a score of 7.736 out of 10, with Costa Rica and Mexico achieving top ten spots for the first time. In contrast, the United States and the United Kingdom have both experienced a decline, landing at 23rd and 24th place—record lows for the U.S.
This 13th edition of the World Happiness Report, published by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, surveyed individuals to self-assess their lives on a scale from 0 to 10. Rankings derive from three-year average scores. Among the top ten happiest nations are: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.
Additional insights from the study reveal that declining happiness and trust levels in the U.S. are contributing to political polarization. A correlation between shared meals and wellbeing was noted globally, and household stability, particularly four to five members living together, linked closely to happiness in regions like Mexico and Europe.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, remarked that these discoveries affirm that happiness stems from trust, kindness, and social connections. He urged that it is crucial for individuals to engage in positive actions to nurture peace and cohesiveness in their communities.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director at Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre, highlighted the necessity of fostering social bonds amid increasing isolation and polarization, asserting the urgency of renewing communal connections for our collective welfare.
