Once again, there’s a strong correlation between gender equality and the happiest countries in the world, with Nordic countries dominating the top five on the latest happiness index. Meanwhile, Afghanistan sadly came in last, reflecting extreme gender-based restrictions under the Taliban.
Finland tops the list for the eighth consecutive year, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden rounding out the top four. Norway follows closely in seventh place. Also in the top ten are the Netherlands (5), Costa Rica (6), Israel (8), Luxembourg (9) and Mexico (10).
At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan, reflecting the increasing gender apartheid and extreme restrictions on women’s rights, which have progressively worsened since 2022. Sierra Leone and Lebanon are also low on the list.
Australia has dropped out of the top ten on the happiness report, now in 11th position, one ahead of New Zealand. The United Kingdom takes position 23, while the United States is in the 24th spot – its lowest level, having peaked at number 11 in 2012.
Meanwhile, the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report listed Iceland as the most gender-equal country in the world in 2024, followed by Finland (2), Norway (3), New Zealand (4), Sweden (5), Nicaragua (6), Germany (7), Namibia (8), Ireland (9) and Spain (10).
Four of the top five countries listed in the Global Gender Gap Index Report are also in the top five of the happiness report, with others close behind, including New Zealand (No. 4 on the gender gap report and 12 on happiness); Costa Rica is 19 on the Global Gender Gap report and takes the sixth spot on the happiness index.
Eight of the top 15 countries on the Global Gender Gap are also in the top 15 of the happiness report – although there are some outliers, including Israel, which drops to 91 on gender equality, Mexico, which drops to 33 and Australia, which falls just out of the top twenty to 21.
Some countries tend to fall extensively on the Index regarding key metrics, such as political empowerment and health.
According to the Global Gender Gap report by the World Economic Forum, Europe leads the regional gender gap rankings. The report says Europe closed 75 per cent of its gap in 2024.
Nordic countries regularly top the rankings across both these lists. These countries all have progressive gender policies, including some of the most generous paid parental leave entitlements globally, a strong focus on affordable childcare, and higher proportions of women’s participation in key decision-making, such as on boards and in politics. Gender equality has previously been found to be a strong predictor of national well-being, while the OECD’s Better Life Index has found that countries with higher women’s workforce participation and leadership tend to score higher on happiness metrics.
Countries with high gender equality tend to have stronger social safety nets, better work-life balance, and greater political representation for women. All of these factors can contribute to overall national happiness.
The 2025 Happiness Index is based on data from the 2022-2024 period, so it does not consider more recent events (including conflict in the Middle East or the recent election of Donald Trump as President of the United States). It involves a survey of more than 100,000 people across 140 countries and is in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The study has been criticised for favouring certain metrics of happiness, including wealth and power. But the broader trends remain clear: societies that prioritise gender equality tend to foster greater happiness and social well-being.
The research highlights a strong belief in kindness as being beneficial to happiness, as well as regularly sharing meals with others. It also indicates household size can play a factor, pointing to examples in Mexico and throughout Europe as showing that four or five residents per household offer a good sweet spot for happiness.
This data suggests that policies promoting gender equality not only benefit women, they will also create societies that are happier, healthier, and more prosperous for everyone.
World’s 20 happiest countries in 2025, next to their rankings on The Global Gender Gap Index for 2024.
Those bolded are in the top 15 for both lists.
1. Finland (No 2 in GGGI)
2. Denmark (No 2 in GGGI)
3. Iceland (No 1 in GGI)
4. Sweden (No 5 in GGI)
5. Netherlands (No 28 in GGI)
6. Costa Rica (No 19 in GGI)
7. Norway (No 3 in GGI)
8. Israel (No 91)
9. Luxembourg (No 46)
10. Mexico (No 33 in GGI)
11. Australia (No 21 in GGI)
12. New Zealand (No 4 in GGI)
13. Switzerland (No 20 in GGI)
14. Belgium (No 12 in GGI)
15. Ireland (No 9 in GGI)
At the bottom of the list are Afghanistan (147), Sierra Leone (146), Lebannon (145), Malawi (144) and Zimbabwe (143)