A woman in Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, Finland. The Nordic country claimed the top spot for the sixth year running.
  • The World Happiness Report released its yearly rankings of the happiest countries this week.
  • Most of the top 10 countries were in Europe, with Nordic nations claiming the top three spots.
  • Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the sixth year running.

The World Happiness Report released its annual rankings of the happiest countries this week, and most of the top 10 spots were European. 

Finland claimed first place for the sixth year running with a score "significantly ahead of all other countries," according to the report. The remaining Nordic countries — Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark – also made it into the top 10, ranking seventh, sixth, third, and second respectively.

The report, published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network but written by a team of independent experts, relies heavily on Gallup world survey data.

To help with the rankings, experts measure countries on six factors: income, health, having someone to count on, a sense of freedom to make life decisions, generosity, and the absence of corruption. The report also looked at the happiness gap between the top and bottom halves of the population to factor in inequality.

The US didn't make it into the top 10 but was ranked the fifteenth happiest country overall. 

10. New Zealand
New Zealand hiking
Mount Cook National Park in the South Island, New Zealand.
9. Luxembourg
Vianden, Luxembourg.
Vianden, Luxembourg.
8. Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland.
7. Norway
norway fjord flag
A fjord in Norway, with the Norwegian flag in the foreground.
6. Sweden
Skyline view of Stockholm City
Skyline view of Stockholm City, Sweden.
5. Netherlands
Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
4. Israel
Jerusalem - A view from the Mount of Olives, showing the Old City, the Dome of the Rock Mosque, the Church of Mount Zion, and the Jewish Synagogue.
A view from the Mount of Olives, in Jerusalem, Israel.
3. Iceland
Blue Lagoon in Grindavik, Iceland
Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Iceland.
2. Denmark
Photo of Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark.
1. Finland
Helsinki, Finland.
Helsinki, Finland.
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