Canada has been ranked 25th out of 147 countries in the 2026 World Happiness Report, highlighting a decline in overall life satisfaction across the country.
In this year’s report, Canada placed just below the United States and between Poland (24th) and Taiwan (26th). The report was officially released on March 19 in collaboration with Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Canada’s Ranking Drops Despite Strong Global Position
Although Canada remains among the world’s top 25 happiest countries, its latest ranking marks a noticeable fall from 18th place in 2025.
Canada recorded a life evaluation score of 6.741, still performing better than several major countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.
Experts suggest that this downward trend is not unique to Canada. Similar patterns have been observed in countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand. One of the key reasons behind this shift is the declining sense of well-being among young people under the age of 25.
Canada’s Happiness Ranking Over the Years
| Year | Global Ranking |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 25 |
Top 10 Happiest Countries in 2026
Finland continues to lead the global rankings, securing the number one position for the ninth consecutive year with a score of 7.764. Nordic countries once again dominate the list.
Costa Rica emerged as a major highlight this year, ranking fourth the highest position ever achieved by a Latin American nation.
| Rank | Country | Life Evaluation Score |
| 1 | Finland | 7.764 |
| 2 | Iceland | 7.540 |
| 3 | Denmark | 7.539 |
| 4 | Costa Rica | 7.439 |
| 5 | Sweden | 7.255 |
| 6 | Norway | 7.242 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 7.223 |
| 8 | Israel | 7.187 |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 7.063 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 7.018 |
Countries Ranking Lower in the Report
Some countries ranked significantly lower in the index, including:
| Country | Rank |
| Cameroon | 100 |
| Pakistan | 104 |
| India | 116 |
| Bangladesh | 127 |
| Sri Lanka | 134 |
| Afghanistan | 147 |
How the Rankings Are Calculated
The World Happiness Report is based on how residents evaluate their own lives rather than their nationality. Participants use the Cantril Ladder scale, rating their lives from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life).
The 2026 rankings are based on average responses collected between 2023 and 2025, with approximately 1,000 people surveyed annually in each country.
The report also examines key factors associated with well-being, including:
- GDP per capita
- Social support
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Perceptions of corruption
These factors help explain the differences in rankings but do not directly determine them.
Declining Youth Well-Being a Key Concern
A major insight from this year’s report is the decline in life satisfaction among individuals under 25, particularly in countries like Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Researchers suggest that increased screen time and the growing influence of social media may be contributing to lower levels of well-being among younger populations.
What This Means for Future Immigrants
Despite the drop in ranking, Canada continues to be one of the most desirable destinations for immigrants, offering a high quality of life, strong social support systems and excellent opportunities for growth.
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