Scandinavian countries consistently rank highest in happiness, even though they seasonally have very little sunlight—the satisfaction is largely due to universal social safety nets and high trust in public institutions.

Analysts attribute Finland's joy factor to its wealth, social safety network, and high life expectancy, among factors. The results were based on answers from roughly 100,000 people in 140 countries and territories. Respondents were asked to rank their life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10. Finnish respondents gave an average life satisfaction score of 7.7; Afghans answered 1.4. The US, in 23rd place, reported an average score of 6.8.

The study form Pew Research Center found richer countries on average tend to be happier. However, after a certain point, wealth matters less for satisfaction. Other matters, such as strong health, education, and social and political stability play important roles in individuals' life satisfaction.

Using latitude, depression prevalence, and populations of women and those aged 18-30, this map shows the risk of experiencing seasonal affective disorder during the winter. Researchers weighted latitude most (50%) and demographics least (5% each for women and young adults). Overall risk is not a useful predictor of prognosis for an individual.

Based on data collected from over 38,000 participants across 75 countries, spending time appreciating Earth's beauty appears to increase one's satisfaction with life. Whether it's a hike in the woods, a dip in the ocean, or time spent watching the sunset, the findings held true across a wide range of economic, cultural, and environmental contexts. The findings also indicate that connection to nature fosters experiences of being present and attentive, which are strongly linked to mental health.

This extensive report provides quantitative evidence on social well-being trends for 36 countries. Data cover demography and family characteristics, employment and wealth, mobility and housing, health status, social expenditure, subjective...

Norman Rosenthal led the team at the National Institute of Mental Health that first identified and described seasonal affective disorder in 1984. This 101 from NIMH explores the basics of the condition, from who develops it to how it is treated.

Researchers asked 10,000 participants to list 10 things that recently made them happy. One author broke down the responses into subject-verb-object categories, isolating the people and events that made responders satisfied. The result highlights how simple things like having dinner or watching a movie made someone happy. Dive in and look for some ideas or tips on feeling happy today with this fascinating visualization.

Subsyndromal affective disorder is diagnosed when someone exhibits two of the nine major criteria for depression (but not more than five) as a result of seasonal changes. While it is milder than primary SAD, SSAD is still significant and impacts millions.

Economists have documented a measurable dip in productivity and output in Muslim-majority countries during Ramadan. But surveys consistently show the opposite on subjective well-being, with people reporting they feel better and more connected.

In Norway's Svalbard archipelago, night reigns from November to January, as with many communities living within the polar regions. Contrary to popular assumptions about such places, many residents of the region describe the long darkness as peaceful, a time to slow down and draw nearer to neighbors and community. Read more on life in polar night, specifically in the Svalbard town of Longyearbyen, in this essay from a resident there.

Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway offer some of the highest annual pension payouts at over 30,000 euros. The below chart shows how European nations stack up in terms of which offer the highest annual pension payouts.

This prevalence trend mirrors the broader incidence of depression among women and is well-documented. Researchers suggest the disparity stems from differences in hormones, social role expectations, coping mechanisms, and more. Men may also present with depression differently, and seek help less.

Where are the best overall places to live in the US? This list focused on finding the happiest towns in America, given the ongoing reconsideration of how people want to live and work in the post-pandemic world. The selection process involved...

The study helped formalize research and diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder, catalyzing the development of therapies (like bright light) and leading to broader adoption of effective treatments. It also helped connect the influence of light and seasons on biological mechanisms in the human body, spurring exploration of circadian rhythms.

In 1950, people in Norway lived to age 72, on average, while those in Mali lived to just 26. By 2015, the countries with the worst conditions had made such significant progress that the global average life expectancy had surpassed the rate of any nation in 1950.

WalletHub analyzed 180 cities using thirty indicators—like depression rate and average leisure time—to rank each city by the happiness of its residents. Check out the list to see how your city ranks.

New Zealand is number one, with universal healthcare and 26 weeks of paid maternity leave.

As South Korea developed over the last half of the 20th century, quality of life soared. The country now outperforms the world average when it comes to education, health, and civic engagement, according to the OECD’s Better Life Index. In this dashboard, you can see where South Korea ranks in terms of housing, jobs, income, and more, and compare it against other developed countries.

Psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos explores ideas such as social media's impact on children's mental health, burnout from work, and healthy practices in romantic relationships, while sitting down with other experts. Her research often highlights how many people's habitual routines actually work against their personal contentment.

An analysis of a survey from Pew ResearchCenter indicates that people who are active in a religious community tend to be happier and more civically engaged than their religiously unaffiliated or inactive counterparts. Studies show that Americans who regularly attend religious services also tend to live longer, however, other studies have indicated higher rates of obesity among highly religious Americans.

The South African doctor migrated to New York City in the 1970s. During his first winter there, he noticed the shorter days had a significant impact on his mood compared to those in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa, which is much closer to the equator. After three years of this seasonal mood shift, he decided to focus his studies. Hear him speak in this quick narration.

WalletHub's annual happiest city rankings are based on 29 key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth, and average daily leisure time.

Dr. Laurie Santos from Yale University explains that our brains aren't necessarily wired to keep us happy. We tend to incorrectly assume that fame or money will bring us satisfaction, when in reality, factors such as being social, generous, and physically active are the better practices to focus on to feel good in life.

As the peak solar cycle approached from late 2024 to early 2026, airlines serving countries such as Iceland, Finland, and Canada increased their scheduled flights, with direct flights to Tromsø, Norway, doubling since 2018. The northern lights tourism market has grown about 10% per year and is expected to increase from $941.9M in 2024 to $1.648B in 2030.

Scandinavian Vikings celebrated Yule during the winter solstice, burning massive, decorated logs to protect their homes and ensure good harvests, while hoping for the sun's return. The festival included evergreens, mistletoe, holly, and ivy.

Research found a correlation between a country's relative stability and whether it has either very low or very high levels of religious diversity. Countries in the middle range—with moderate diversity and active competition between groups—show higher levels of conflict.

Nothing is better than going outside and soaking up real sunlight. However, this is harder in winter, especially in very cold and cloudy regions. SAD lamps are designed to project 10,000 lux—a unit of illuminance, or how much light actually hits a surface (rather than how much is produced, like watts). This video discusses product options and practical considerations.

Most people’s eyes become more sensitive to light in the winter months, but some do not. This failure to adjust causes ripple effects on those individuals’ biological clocks. This Ted-ED video provides a clear, brief, narrative explanation of the condition in six minutes.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics winners, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson, were honored for their compelling research on the factors that influence a nation’s prosperity. Spanning two decades, their work presents insights into how societal organization can explain the income discrepancies between different countries. In general, their research shows that economic success favors more free and open societies. Listen for more fascinating insights.

The Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index ranked 173 cities based on stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. The report shows an overall increase in livability scores compared to previous...

This video argues that Eastern philosophy tends to emphasize that contentment comes from maintaining control over our minds and reducing mental disturbances, while Westerners tend to believe happiness comes from conquering the world and building capital.

In 2025, France's AFP analyzed the voting data from every Eurovision Song Contest and found that how countries vote often reflects long-standing cultural associations, with Nordic countries, Baltic states, and former Soviet nations tending to vote in solidarity.

A 2018 study analyzed 50 global cities to determine whether smart city technologies enhance residents' quality of life. It found that these technologies can decrease the time spent interacting with healthcare and government by 45% to 65%, while also decreasing the disease burden by 8% to 15%.

In an era of 24-hour news, it can feel as if the world is on a perpetual downward spiral. This set of visualizations zoom out, and show how global living conditions have improved in recent centuries. The percentage of people living in extreme...

Also known as climatic determinism, the theory states that the latitudes where people are located influence their emotional and intellectual capabilities. Originating in Ancient Greece, these ideas were used throughout history to justify racial hierarchies.

The perennial debate on how to be happy involves various aspects of life, and one of the most essential is our psychological attitudes toward experiences. This piece lists and explains four basic tools to strengthen your "psychological immune...

Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger breaks down findings from research following the lives of 724 men for decades, beginning in 1938. The sample included both Harvard students and young boys in poor areas of Boston who continuously participated in interviews and medical studies. Waldinger shares that the strongest takeaway is that good relationships keep us happier and healthier.

The annual index measuring every country's relative levels of corruption. In 2022, Denmark earned the top spot for transparency, with Sudan, Syria, and Somalia identified as having the highest levels of corruption in the public sector. The rankings...

Celebrating the seasonal change is rarely filled with as much relief and hope around the world as spring. This list compiles some famous and lesser-known springtime traditions from diverse cultures.

Funding for policy resources often hinges on measuring the scale of a problem and then being able to measure the effectiveness of interventions, requiring data. Yet defining and measuring loneliness at a country-scale remains challenging. Typically, the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale is sometimes used worldwide or adapted to measure loneliness.

Historically rooted in Greek philosophy, its ideas used the latitudes where people were located to justify racial hierarchies, casting tropical peoples as lazy or inferior. These biases still influence how media and research portray people in climatically disadvantaged regions.

Our World in Data monitors bilateral relationships on a spectrum from open rivalry to "positive peace"—deep cooperation and mutual protection. In 1945, no countries had highly cooperative security relationships. Today, nearly a fifth do.