Happiness is a category not only subjective, but also measurable. At least that’s what the authors think World Happiness Report 2025, which determines the level of life satisfaction in different countries of the world every year. Ukraine has traditionally not been among the leaders, but in recent years the situation has become even worse. In the new ranking, the country dropped to 111th place compared to 2024, when it was ranked 105th. War is expected to be cited as the main reason. But if you take a closer look, were Ukrainians really happy with her?
An alarming descent in the world ranking of happiness
According to the new rating, Finland remains the unchanging leader in terms of happiness, which has held its position for eight years in a row. Ukraine, on the other hand, took 111th place between Niger and Morocco, receiving 4.68 points out of a possible 10, demonstrating a disappointing downward trend in the world ranking.
In total, 147 countries are listed in the rating. The top 10 included:
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
It is noteworthy that the USA took the 4th place this year, explaining such a decrease by the political differences present in the country. Last in the ranking this year is Afghanistan, followed by the African countries of Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Researchers have established six main factors by which the level of happiness in countries is assessed:
- GDP per capita – the level of economic well-being of people;
- social support – does a person have someone on whom he can rely in a difficult moment;
- healthy life expectancy – how long people live without serious diseases;
- freedom of choice – do people feel that they can manage their own lives;
- generosity – level of charity, willingness to help others;
- level of corruption – how much people trust state institutions.
In the Scandinavian countries, these indicators are consistently high. They have social guarantees, a strong middle class, the absence of corruption, free medicine and education, and most importantly, people are not afraid of the future. Ukrainians are much less lucky with this. The researchers indicated that this year more and more people are pessimistic and feel happier when they are cared for. Also, the report on happiness in the world investigated how people react to the situation when they find other people’s wallets. It turned out that the rate of returned wallets was almost twice as high as expected, suggesting that the kindness of others can have a significant impact on happiness levels.
The results of the rating show an interesting trend: the happiest people, as a rule, live in countries with a high level of trust among citizens, with well-being and the ability to influence their own lives. However, it is not only high salaries or a sunny climate that influence this. It is not by chance that the Scandinavian countries remain the leaders in the rating. After all, it is precisely where the important components of happiness are – stability, support of society and opportunities for self-realization. Everything that Ukraine has always lacked so much.
Before the war: unhappiness by inertia
Until 2022, Ukraine did not demonstrate high indicators in the world happiness rating. Constant economic crises, political upheavals, distrust of state institutions – all this created a background for a general feeling of instability. Add to this the traditional culture of pessimism and the historically formed habit of living by putting off “for a rainy day” – and you get a nation that, even in relatively calm years, could not boast of an excess of joy.
In 2019, Ukraine ranked 133 out of 156 in the world ranking. In 2021, it rose to 110, which was a relative improvement, but still left the country among the outsiders. The war, of course, made its adjustments, but it cannot be said that we fell from some “happy Olympus”. Rather, they simply plunged even deeper.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the structure of Ukrainian happiness changed. Now it is not so much about personal comfort, but about joint endurance, support and faith. Research shows that the level of trust between people has increased, as has the sense of national unity. But it is unlikely to compensate for the loss of loved ones, the destruction of homes and chronic fatigue from uncertainty.
The 2025 rating confirms that even against the background of heroism and unity, Ukrainians feel less happy. Constant anxiety, fatigue, missed opportunities – all this does not allow even those who are safe to feel good.
What is the meaning of happiness in foreign countries
In Japan, the importance of the simple joys of life has long been explored. They even have special “happiness parks” and museums dedicated to the study of the importance of finding joy in the simplest things. It is in these places that they understand that happiness does not always depend on huge achievements, but on the ability to notice the small joys of every day. The Japanese also know that happiness lies not only in rest, but also in what you do. They are looking for their “ikigai” – a business that combines passion, talent and benefit for others. It can be anything from baking bread to teaching yoga.
In general, in different countries, the approach to happiness is not just about being positive or thinking about good things. There is a whole system that works at the level of society. For example, the Danes are among the happiest in the world. And their secret lies in hygge – comfort in everything, from home light to gatherings with friends. They do not aspire to a luxurious life, but appreciate simple moments – a cup of hot tea on a rainy day or woolen socks in winter.
Finns enjoy the “right to nature”, according to which anyone can go to the forest, pitch a tent or even pick berries on someone else’s plot. This helps them stay calm, because nature is free therapy.
Few people stay late for work in the Netherlands. There it is considered normal to work 4 days a week and spend a lot of time with the family. Employers even encourage such a balance, because they understand that a tired person is not the best employee.
The French are in no hurry. They drink coffee for a long time in the morning, enjoy food and spend a lot of time talking. They have a rule: “live for pleasure”, not just for achievements.
New Zealanders live in the style of “work to live, not live to work”, which means work to live, not the other way around. They are active in sports, travel the country and value time with family and friends.
In general, in most countries, the level of happiness is affected by the development of GDP. But Bhutan remains the only country where national happiness has become an official priority. The government of Bhutan conducts special surveys each year to measure the happiness level of its citizens, recognizing that true well-being is not always measured by the amount of money or material possessions alone. In this context, the country has become a vivid example of how important it is to take care not only of the economy, but also of the mental state of people. After all, scientists have long proven that the level of happiness largely depends on simple but important things, such as communication with loved ones, gratitude, physical activity and even time spent in the sun. And indeed, laughter, as it turned out, can prolong life. During laughter, endorphins are more actively produced in the body – hormones of happiness, which reduce stress and strengthen immunity.
Why Ukrainians do not reach the level of Scandinavians
The average level of income in Ukraine still remains low. Yes, after 2014, the economy began to grow, but unevenly. Some Ukrainians experienced improvement, while others continued to live paycheck to paycheck. Add war and the issue of welfare becomes even more pressing.
In Ukraine, the level of trust is traditionally weak, both in the authorities and between people. When the majority believes that state institutions do not work for them, but “for their own”, the general feeling of security and justice decreases. In Finland, the majority of citizens are convinced that if a disaster occurs, the state will help.
Free medicine in Ukraine exists only formally. In fact, people are afraid of getting sick, because the treatment will cost unaffordable sums. Sweden or Denmark do not have this problem, because they are sure that the state will take care of them.
Ukraine emerged from the Soviet system, which cultivated scarcity, fear and uncertainty for decades. Even 30 years later, these vestiges of the past are still present. While the Scandinavians nurtured their societies in conditions of democracy, equality and stability, the Ukrainians lived in the reality of constant crises.
The most important factor today remains war. It is impossible to feel happy when your life is in danger and your plans for the future are shattered by rocket fire. But we should not forget that if a country does not care about its citizens, then its place in the happiness rating will naturally be low. The war can explain many difficulties, but not the indifference to people that existed even before it.
After all, happiness does not consist only in a personal mood. Such factors as social support, trust in the authorities, access to quality medicine, education, and fair wages are important. If a person constantly lives in stress due to instability, low wages or lack of protection from the state, then what kind of happiness can it be?
Successful countries do not just demand perseverance and optimism from their citizens, but create conditions under which people do not feel abandoned even in difficult times. In Ukraine, people are forced to rely only on themselves or volunteers, because state institutions work as if help is some kind of luxury, and not their direct duty. It is clear that if the country wants to rise in the happiness rating, it should not look for excuses, but change the system. War is a challenge, but not a reason to ignore the basic needs of citizens.
However, a drop in the happiness rating is not a sentence. The experience of other countries that experienced wars and deep crises shows that after difficult trials there is recovery, and in some places an unexpected increase in the level of well-being. But this requires stability, economic recovery and, most importantly, a sense of control over one’s life. Today, Ukrainian happiness is not about high salaries or stability, but about basic things: family and friends nearby, security, understanding of what tomorrow will bring. And this is the foundation on which, despite everything, you can still build the future.
