The annual report — compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network — ranked 147 nations by “how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be.” The World Happiness Report rankings are based on six key areas: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and absence of corruption. In the 2025 report, the top-ranked nation was again Finland. Israel was ranked 8th. By comparison, the United States ranked 24th and the Palestinian Territories (inaccurately referred to as the State of Palestine) 108th. Despite ongoing war and national trauma, Israel ranked 8th in the World Happiness Report again in 2026, reflecting strong societal resilience alongside rising psychological distress. Finland once again came in first for the ninth year in a row, while the United States was at 23rd.
| 2026 | 8 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2017-19 | 14 |
2016-18 | 13 |
2015-17 | 11 |
2016 | 12 |
2013-15 | 11 |
2012-14 | 11 |
2010-12 | 11 |
2012 | 9 |
Source: World Happiness Reports, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, (March 2025).
Diana Bletter, “Despite war, Israel ranks 8th in global happiness survey, same as last year,” Times of Israel, (March 19, 2026).