Where are Ukraine & Russia Places on the World's Happiest Countries 2022

World Happiness index 2022/2023

Despite the war between Russia and Ukraine as well as the Covid 19 pandemic that is shaking the world, there is also much happiness, benevolence and trust in the world.

World Happiness Report 2022: Where is Ukraine, Russia, U.S and U.K on the List?

Published March 18, 2022, the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness index names Finland as the world’s happiest country for the fifth year running, with Afghanistan again the unhappiest, followed closely by Lebanon.

The World Happiness Report, now in its 10th year, is based on people’s own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data.

It assigns a happiness score on a scale of zero to 10, based on an average of data over a three-year period.

This latest edition was completed before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The surveys this year's happiness rankings were based on were conducted well before the invasion. Ukraine and Russia both fall into the bottom half of world rankings for happiness in the 2022 report, with Ukraine at No. 98 and Russia at No. 80.

Read More: 2022 Military Strengths of Russia and Ukraine in Comparison

The current war raging in Ukraine means happiness in other parts of the world could teeter as well.

The United States rose three places to 16th, one ahead of Britain, while France climbed to 20th, its highest ranking yet.

Northern Europeans once again dominate the top spots — with the Danes second behind the Finns, followed by the Icelandic, the Swiss and the Dutch.

On the other hand, Afghanistan was ranked as the most unhappy country in the world. It was soon followed by Lebanon and Zimbabwe.

In the latest World Happiness Report, Nigeria has been ranked 114th among 146 nations surveyed, with Nordic nations dominating the top 10.

In West Africa, Nigeria is ranked ahead of Mali,(115), Liberia(118), Chad (125), Mauritania(131), Togo (133), Sierra Leone (135).

Hpwever, Ivory Coast (83), Ghana(93) , Cameroon(89), Senegal(90), Niger(94), Gambia(96), Benin(97), Guinea(100) and Burkina Faso(111) are ranked much happier nations than Nigeria.

Mauritius at 49 in the world is the happiest nation in Africa.

In the latest World Happiness Report, Nigeria has been ranked 114th

Take a look at the top 10 countries of the World Happiness Report, 2022 here:

The Top 20 Happiest Countries in the World

1.Finland

2.Denmark

3.Iceland

4.Switzerland

5.Netherlands

6.Luxembourg

7.Sweden

8.Norway

9.Israel

10.New Zealand

11.Austria

12.Australia

13.Ireland

14.Germany

15.Canada

16.United States

17.United Kingdom

18.Czech Republic

19.Belgium

20.France

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Where is Ukraine Place: 98 - Unhappiest People?

Before the war broke out in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the country's happiness ranking index every year for many years has always been low. Among European countries, Ukraine is the only one at the bottom of the ranking. Neighboring countries are ranked much higher: Russia, Poland, Belarus, and Moldova etc.

This fact makes Ukraine one of the unhappy countries in Europe. According to Gallup, Ukraine is in the top five of countries with the most negative happiness ranking dynamics in the past 10 years.

Expert sociologists attribute the deterioration of Ukraine’s position in the World Happiness Ranking to a number of reasons. The first one is the worsening of the economic situation and the ongoing war in the Donbas. The second one consists of Ukrainian society’s greater demands after the Revolution of Dignity.

Where is Russia Place: 80

Although the ranking was completed before the war broke out, Russia's position in the happiness index has dropped more than 10 places. Russia is now the 80th-happiest place on Earth in 2022.

Russia ranked 6th-happiest among its post-Soviet cohorts, behind Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Moldova.

Read More: What Happened to the 15 Republics in the Former Soviet Union (USSR)

1.Finland - Why is Finland so happy?

Finland ranks as the world's happiest country based on the 2022 report, with a score of 7.842 out of a total possible score of 10. The report writers credited the citizens of Finland's strong feelings of communal support and mutual trust with not only helping secure the #1 ranking, but (more importantly) helping the country as a whole navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Finlanders felt strongly that they were free to make their own choices, and showed minimal suspicion of government corruption. Both of these factors are strong contributors to overall happiness.

The report raised some eyebrows when it first placed Finland at the top of its listings in 2018.

Many of the Nordic country’s 5.5 million people describe themselves as taciturn and prone to melancholy, and admit to eyeing public displays of joyfulness with suspicion.

But the country of vast forests and lakes is also known for its well-functioning public services, ubiquitous saunas, widespread trust in authority and low levels of crime and inequality.

"One other factor which makes Finland different from most western countries is the equality, which translates into opportunities for everyone no matter what socio-economical background they are from," The Helsinki Times said. "Finland has a very large middle class, and very little poverty... Even the poorest people would get the best education and health care, and no one needs to be homeless."

It added: "All these of course may not make people happy, but it sure makes them contempt and relaxed."

2.Denmark

The second-happiest country in the world is Denmark, which scores 7.620. Denmark's values for each of the six variables are quite comparable to those of Finland. In fact, Denmark even outscored the leader in multiple categories, including GDP per capita, generosity, and perceived lack of corruption, demonstrating that it may claim the top spot sometime in the near future.

Located in Northern Europe, it is home to many progressive policies, like bike-friendly cities that promote environmentally friendly lifestyles and high social support networks for their people. The Danish have been known as some of nature’s healthiest creatures since they hold an average life expectancy at birth which sits just below 80 years old.

3.Iceland

Iceland ranks as 2021's fourth-happiest country in the entire world, with a total score of 7.554. Of the top seven happiest countries around the globe, Iceland has the highest feeling of social support (higher even than Finland, Norway, and Denmark, which all tied for second place). Iceland also had the second-highest generosity score in the top seven, though it's worth noting that it ranked only 11th worldwide.

Iceland, with Kirkjufell pictured in the background, rates highly along with its Nordic neighbors in areas such as life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption and high social trust, generosity and freedom.

4.Switzerland

As the third-happiest country in the world, Switzerland scored a total of 7.571 out of 10. In general, the Swiss are very healthy, with one of the world's lowest obesity rates and a long life expectancy. The Swiss also have a very high median salary, about 75% higher than that of the United States, and the highest GDP per capita in the top seven. Additionally, there is a strong sense of community in Switzerland and a firm belief that it is a safe and clean country—which is statistically true. Along with Iceland and Denmark, Switzerland is one of the world's safest countries.

5.Netherlands

Edging out Norway for the honor of fifth-happiest country in the world is the Netherlands (also known as Holland to many tulip lovers), with a score of 7.464. The Netherlands scored higher in the generosity category than any other top-seven country and also displayed an impressive lack of perceived corruption.

6.Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a small country with an excellent work-life balance. Luxembourg also offers many other advantages, including great healthcare systems and five weeks vacation time plus public holidays. They also have a meager crime rate and the highest GDP per capita in Europe.

Luxembourg is so lovely that it’s become a major tourist destination for people all around the world.

7.Sweden

Seventh-place Sweden (7.363) ranks high, if not quite highest, in virtually every category measured. For example: Sweden has a higher lack of corruption score than all but four countries worldwide (two of which are Finland and Denmark), the fourteenth-highest GDP per capita of all 149 countries measured, and the fourth-highest life expectancy in the top seven.

8.Norway

The citizens of sixth-place Norway (7.392) feel they are being well cared for by their government thanks to universal healthcare and free college tuition. Norwegians also enjoy a healthy work-life balance, working an average of 38 hours per week vs. 41.5. hours per week in the United States. Additionally, Norway has a low crime rate and a strong sense of community among its citizens—a quality it shares with many of the top seven.

9.Israel

Israel has climbed three spots to ninth, its highest-ever placing, in the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness index. It came in 12th last year.

10.New Zealand

New Zealand’s hospitality is legendary. Travelers have been raving about it for years, and they say New Zealanders are warm, welcoming folk who will go out of their way to help you enjoy your vacation or relax after work. The country also scores highly when looking at natural beauty.

One could ask themselves how did these wonderful features come together into one cohesive whole? Well, there were many factors involved, but we believe that the happiest people are those who know how to balance their life. They don’t overwork themselves, nor do they underdo it either.

Honorable Bhutan Bhutan was excluded from the 2021 report due to a technicality: Each country's scores are based upon detailed Gallup polls, but Gallup did not conduct polling in Bhutan during the required timeframe. However, the report's writers made a special effort to pay tribute to Bhutan, saying it "once again provided an inspiring example for the world about how to combine health and happiness. They made explicit use of the principles of Gross National Happiness in mobilizing the whole population in collaborative efforts to avoid even a single COVID-19 death in 2020, despite having strong international travel links." Impressive indeed. If Gallup begins polling in Bhutan, Northern Europe's hold on happiness may soon have competition.

International Day Of Happiness: Date, Best Wishes & Quotes, Celebration and Happiest Countries

*Check out the World Happiness Report in Full List of Countries 2022 Here

Check more the Ranking about Happiest Countries in the World

Rank	Country	Happiness 2021	Happiness 2020	2022 Population
1	Finland	7.842	7.809	5,554,960
2	Denmark	7.62	7.646	5,834,950
3	Switzerland	7.571	7.56	8,773,637
4	Iceland	7.554	7.504	345,393
5	Netherlands	7.464	7.449	17,211,447
6	Norway	7.392	7.488	5,511,370
7	Sweden	7.363	7.353	10,218,971
8	Luxembourg	7.324	7.238	642,371
9	New Zealand	7.277	7.3	4,898,203
10	Austria	7.268	7.294	9,066,710
11	Australia	7.183	7.223	26,068,792
12	Israel	7.157	7.129	8,922,892
13	Germany	7.155	7.076	83,883,596
14	Canada	7.103	7.232	38,388,419
15	Ireland	7.085	7.129	5,020,199
16	Costa Rica	7.069	7.121	5,182,354
17	United Kingdom	7.064	7.165	68,497,907
18	Czech Republic	6.965	6.911	10,736,784
19	United States	6.951	6.94	334,805,269
20	Belgium	6.834	6.864	11,668,278
21	France	6.69	6.664	65,584,518
22	Bahrain	6.647	6.227	1,783,983
23	Malta	6.602	6.773	444,033
24	Taiwan	6.584	6.455	23,888,595
25	United Arab Emirates	6.561	6.791	10,081,785
26	Saudi Arabia	6.494	6.406	35,844,909
27	Spain	6.491	6.401	46,719,142
28	Italy	6.483	6.387	60,262,770
29	Slovenia	6.461	6.363	2,078,034
30	Guatemala	6.435	6.399	18,584,039
31	Uruguay	6.431	6.44	3,496,016
32	Singapore	6.377	6.377	5,943,546
33	Slovakia	6.331	6.281	5,460,193
34	Brazil	6.33	6.376	215,353,593
35	Mexico	6.317	6.465	131,562,772
36	Jamaica	6.309	5.89	2,985,094
37	Lithuania	6.255	6.215	2,661,708
38	Cyprus	6.223	6.159	1,223,387
39	Estonia	6.189	6.022	1,321,910
40	Panama	6.18	6.305	4,446,964
41	Uzbekistan	6.179	6.258	34,382,084
42	Chile	6.172	6.228	19,250,195
43	Poland	6.166	6.186	37,739,785
44	Kazakhstan	6.152	6.058	19,205,043
45	Romania	6.14	6.124	19,031,335
46	Kuwait	6.106	6.102	4,380,326
47	Serbia	6.078	5.778	8,653,016
48	El Salvador	6.061	6.348	6,550,389
49	Mauritius	6.049	6.101	1,274,727
50	Latvia	6.032	5.95	1,848,837
51	Colombia	6.012	6.163	51,512,762
52	Hungary	5.992	6	9,606,259
53	Thailand	5.985	5.999	70,078,203
54	Nicaragua	5.972	6.137	6,779,100
55	Japan	5.94	5.871	125,584,838
57	Portugal	5.929	5.911	10,140,570
56	Argentina	5.929	5.975	46,010,234
58	Honduras	5.919	5.953	10,221,247
59	Croatia	5.882	5.505	4,059,286
60	Philippines	5.88	6.006	112,508,994
61	South Korea	5.845	5.872	51,329,899
62	Peru	5.84	5.797	33,684,208
63	Bosnia And Herzegovina	5.813	5.674	3,249,317
64	Moldova	5.766	5.608	4,013,171
65	Ecuador	5.764	5.925	18,113,361
66	Kyrgyzstan	5.744	5.542	6,728,271
67	Greece	5.723	5.515	10,316,637
68	Bolivia	5.716	5.747	11,992,656
69	Mongolia	5.677	5.456	3,378,078
70	Paraguay	5.653	5.692	7,305,843
71	Montenegro	5.581	5.546	627,950
72	Dominican Republic	5.545	5.689	11,056,370
73	Belarus	5.534	5.54	9,432,800
75	Hong Kong	5.477	5.51	7,604,299
74	Russia	5.477	5.546	145,805,947
76	Tajikistan	5.466	5.556	9,957,464
77	Vietnam	5.411	5.353	98,953,541
78	Libya	5.41	5.489	7,040,745
79	Malaysia	5.384	5.384	33,181,072
80	Indonesia	5.345	5.286	279,134,505
81	Republic of the Congo	5.342	5.194	5,797,805
82	China	5.339	5.124	1,448,471,400
83	Ivory Coast	5.306	5.233	27,742,298
84	Armenia	5.283	4.677	2,971,966
85	Nepal	5.269	5.137	30,225,582
86	Bulgaria	5.266	5.102	6,844,597
87	Maldives	5.198	5.198	540,985
88	Azerbaijan	5.171	5.165	10,300,205
89	Cameroon	5.142	5.085	27,911,548
90	Senegal	5.132	4.981	17,653,671
91	Albania	5.117	4.883	2,866,374
92	North Macedonia	5.101	5.16	2,081,304
93	Ghana	5.088	5.148	32,395,450
94	Niger	5.074	4.91	26,083,660
95	Turkmenistan	5.066	5.119	6,201,943
96	Gambia	5.051	4.751	2,558,482
97	Benin	5.045	5.216	12,784,726
98	Laos	5.03	4.889	7,481,023
99	Bangladesh	5.025	4.833	167,885,689
100	Guinea	4.984	4.949	13,865,691
101	South Africa	4.956	4.814	60,756,135
102	Turkey	4.948	5.132	85,561,976
103	Pakistan	4.934	5.693	229,488,994
104	Morocco	4.918	5.095	37,772,756
105	Venezuela	4.892	5.053	29,266,991
106	Georgia	4.891	4.673	3,968,738
107	Algeria	4.887	5.005	45,350,148
108	Ukraine	4.875	4.561	43,192,122
109	Iraq	4.854	4.785	42,164,965
110	Gabon	4.852	4.829	2,331,533
111	Burkina Faso	4.834	4.769	22,102,838
112	Cambodia	4.83	4.848	17,168,639
113	Mozambique	4.794	4.624	33,089,461
114	Nigeria	4.759	4.724	216,746,934
115	Mali	4.723	4.729	21,473,764
116	Iran	4.721	4.672	86,022,837
117	Uganda	4.636	4.432	48,432,863
118	Liberia	4.625	4.558	5,305,117
119	Kenya	4.607	4.583	56,215,221
120	Tunisia	4.596	4.392	12,046,656
121	Lebanon	4.584	4.772	6,684,849
122	Namibia	4.574	4.571	2,633,874
123	Myanmar	4.426	4.308	55,227,143
124	Jordan	4.395	4.633	10,300,869
125	Chad	4.355	4.423	17,413,580
126	Sri Lanka	4.325	4.327	21,575,842
127	Eswatini	4.308	4.308	1,184,817
128	Comoros	4.289	4.289	907,419
129	Egypt	4.283	4.151	106,156,692
130	Ethiopia	4.275	4.186	120,812,698
131	Mauritania	4.227	4.375	4,901,981
132	Madagascar	4.208	4.166	29,178,077
133	Togo	4.107	4.187	8,680,837
134	Zambia	4.073	3.759	19,470,234
135	Sierra Leone	3.849	3.926	8,306,436
136	India	3.819	3.573	1,406,631,776
137	Burundi	3.775	3.775	12,624,840
138	Yemen	3.658	3.527	31,154,867
139	Tanzania	3.623	3.476	63,298,550
140	Haiti	3.615	3.721	11,680,283
141	Malawi	3.6	3.538	20,180,839
142	Lesotho	3.512	3.653	2,175,699
143	Botswana	3.467	3.479	2,441,162
144	Rwanda	3.415	3.312	13,600,464
145	Zimbabwe	3.145	3.299	15,331,428
146	Afghanistan	2.523	2.567	40,754,388

Published since 2012, the World Happiness Report is based on two key ideas – happiness or life evaluation measured through opinion surveys and identifying key elements that determine well-being and life evaluation across countries. Published by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report contains rankings of national happiness based on several factors, and primarily on the responses by the individuals. The World Happiness Report usually ranks 150 countries based on several factors such as real GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption. Every year, each variable measures a populated-weighted average score on a scale of 0-10 that is tracked over a period of time and further compared with other countries. This year, the report ranked 146 countries.