UN Happiness Report 2026: Finland Remains Happiest, Latvia Shows Improvement

For the ninth consecutive year, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world, according to the latest World Happiness Report of the United Nations (UN). Latvia has seen a positive shift, moving up three positions to 48th place, though it still lags behind its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania.

Impact of Social Networks on Youth Well-being

This year’s report places significant emphasis on the correlation between social network usage and the well-being of young people. The findings suggest that intensive leverage of social media platforms can negatively impact the well-being of youth in many countries. Specifically, the report highlights a dramatic decline in happiness among those under 25 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, particularly among young women.

Although, the report also notes a contrasting trend, with young people in other regions of the world reporting increased happiness. John Clifton, head of Gallup’s public opinion research organization, stated, “Most of the world’s young people are happier today than they were 20 years ago, and this is a trend that deserves attention.”

The report acknowledges the complex relationship between social media and well-being, citing factors such as time spent on platforms, the specific platforms used, usage patterns, and demographic variables like gender and socioeconomic status as contributing elements.

Global Happiness Landscape

Afghanistan is identified as the least happy country in the report, with the Taliban regime facing accusations of human rights abuses and restrictions on women’s rights since regaining power in 2021.

The happiness index, based on three-year averages, considers six key factors: gross domestic product per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

Following Finland, the top three happiest countries are Iceland and Denmark. The top ten also includes Costa Rica, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

Baltic Region Comparison

Within the Baltic region, Latvia ranks 48th, Estonia 46th, and Lithuania 28th in terms of happiness, according to the report.

Latvia and the UN Security Council

In related news, Latvia began its work on the UN Security Council on January 1, 2026, marking a significant role in international diplomacy and security Lasi.lv. Latvia was admitted as a member of the United Nations on September 17, 1991 Lasi.lv.