World Happiness Report 2026: Finland is happiest again โ but Canada plummets and Singapore's neighbours Sweden drops
It's that time of the year again. The latest edition of the World Happiness Report is out, and as usual, it's the Finns who have the most reason to smile. For the seventh year running, Finland is crowned the world's happiest country. The Nordics continue to dominate the top spots as expected โ but back home in Singapore, we see a slight dip for our friends in Sweden. They've slipped a few notches, even though they're still way ahead of most others.
But it's not their neighbours to the east making headlines this year. Look west instead, across the Atlantic. Canada, long seen as one of the most harmonious countries, is tumbling down the rankings. The country lands at 25th out of 147 nations, which sounds okay until you look back โ since 2013, Canada has dropped a staggering 19 places. The question is, what's happening in the land of maple leaves and politeness?
Canada's crisis: from dream to nightmare?
I've been following these reports for a long time, and I can't recall such a dramatic fall for any Western country. To understand why, you really have to look at the bigger picture. It's not just one thing, but a puzzle of political turbulence and everyday struggles. Here are some key factors many Canadians themselves point to:
- The housing crisis in major cities: Buying a home in Toronto or Vancouver is a pipe dream for young people. Even the Prime Minister's official residence, Rideau Cottage, has been described as "inadequate" for a head of government. When those in power can't even secure decent housing, it's easy for people to lose hope.
- Soaring car costs in Toronto: A new report shows Toronto is now one of the world's cities where it's hardest to justify owning a car. Between insurance, parking, and petrol, your vehicle eats up a huge chunk of your salary โ and without reliable alternatives, daily life becomes a major stress point.
- Political cynicism: Right now, there's a heated debate in Ontario. Critics, including Tim Hudak who recently pointed out in a morning commentary, argue that Premier Doug Ford is "flooding the zone" โ swamping the news cycle with other issues to divert attention from a transparency scandal. When people feel politicians aren't being straight with them, trust erodes, and trust is a key ingredient for happiness.
Jeffrey Sachs warns of the price of negativity
The report's co-founder, Jeffrey Sachs, often highlights the importance of social connections. This year, he's also commented on another aspect: the impact of negative people. Research featured in the report shows that negative individuals around you can actually speed up your ageing process. It's about the stress, the anxiety, and that gnawing feeling of always being on edge. Perhaps that's exactly the feeling spreading through Canada right now โ a collective pessimism eating away from within.
Sweden โ still among the happy ones
But let's not get too down about it here. Sure, Sweden drops a few places this year โ we've noticed โ but they're still part of the exclusive club of countries where you can breathe easy. Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and the Netherlands are ahead, but they still beat most others. Maybe it's their openness, their sense of security, or just having access to nature and a decent work-life balance that keeps them doing well. Because even if they complain about the weather or the lack of housing in big cities, life is actually pretty darn good for them.
And one thing's for sure: when the next report lands in 2027, we'll likely be comparing ourselves to our Finnish neighbours again. Until then, we'll have to live with them being the world champions of happiness โ and we'll settle for being among the top students in the class. For a country in Northern Europe, that's still pretty okay.