Canada slips to 25th in global happiness ranking, lowest position since 2011 report began tracking
The nation fell seven places from 2024 despite remaining among the world's happiest countries. Social media's effect on youth happiness is cited as a key factor.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Canada has dropped to 25th place in the World Happiness Report for 2025—its lowest ranking since the report began collecting data in 2011—a sharp seven-position fall from 18th place in 2024.
The country remains among the 25 happiest in the world, but the decline reflects broader trends affecting Western industrial nations. According to the World Happiness Report, fifteen developed countries have seen significant happiness drops compared to just four with significant increases. The report bases its rankings on data from 140 countries, measuring how residents rate their own lives.
Finland tops the list for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland at second and Denmark at third. Costa Rica climbed to fourth place—the only South American country in the top five—while Sweden dropped one position to fifth. Afghanistan remains at the bottom at 147th place for the second year, with Sierra Leone at 146th.
The report's focus on youth and social media usage offers insight into Canada's slipping position. Increased use of social media among adolescents is affecting youth happiness at a scale large enough to impact overall population trends. This marks a significant shift in the factors driving national well-being, suggesting that digital connectivity is reshaping how young Canadians experience life satisfaction despite the country's strong economic fundamentals and social stability.
