HELSINKI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Finland has once again been ranked the world's happiest country, marking its ninth consecutive year at the top, according to the World Happiness Report released on Thursday.
A total of 147 countries and regions were included in the 2026 ranking. According to the report's editorial board, the ranking is based on factors including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, perceptions of corruption and social tolerance.
The report said Finland and the other Nordic countries have remained at the top due to a combination of wealth, relatively equal income distribution, welfare systems that protect people from the impact of economic downturns, and healthy life expectancy.
In an interview with Finnish national broadcaster Yle, Lari Hokkanen, a doctoral researcher in social science at the University of Helsinki, said the index measures life satisfaction rather than happiness in an emotional sense.
"It is an overall cognitive assessment of how life feels, and it does not necessarily involve strong emotions," Hokkanen said.
He said the strong performance of the Nordic countries in the report is largely rooted in social stability and robust welfare systems, which help build resilience in difficult times.
Hokkanen also suggested that Finland's long-standing high ranking is partly linked to the Finnish cultural emphasis on moderation.
"Moderation is a very strong part of why Finland has ranked so highly over the past nine years," he said.
He added that relatively small income gaps, low levels of corruption, and strong trust in public institutions also contribute to people's well-being in Finland.
First published in 2012, the World Happiness Report is produced by the University of Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with global analytics and advisory firm Gallup, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board. Since the report was first published, Finland has consistently ranked among the top countries and has held the top position since 2018. ■
