Canada ranks 25th in 2026 World Happiness Report
Canada has placed 25th among 147 countries in the 2026 World Happiness Report, a global assessment of life satisfaction released on March 19.
The updated ranking reflects a continued downward trend for Canada, which had ranked 18th in 2025. The report evaluates how residents rate their own quality of life.
The findings come from a collaboration involving Gallup, the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
- Canada ranks 25th globally in the 2026 report
- The country dropped from 18th place in 2025
- Canada’s life evaluation score stands at 6.741
- Finland retains the top position for a ninth consecutive year
- Declines in youth well-being noted across several countries, including Canada
Canada’s position in the global rankings
Canada remains within the top 25 countries worldwide, positioned between Poland at 24th and Taiwan at 26th. The United States ranked slightly higher than Canada in the latest report.
The country recorded a life evaluation score of 6.741. This places it ahead of several major European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Spain.
Only a small number of North American countries featured in the top 25. Canada’s ranking continues to reflect relatively strong but gradually declining performance in global comparisons.
Recent ranking trends
Over recent years, Canada’s ranking has shifted downward from higher positions earlier in the decade. The country ranked 11th in 2020 and remained within the top 15 until 2024.
The drop to 18th place in 2025 and further to 25th in 2026 marks the most significant decline observed in this period. Similar patterns have been reported in other developed countries.
The report highlights comparable trends in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, particularly among younger populations.
Top-ranked countries in 2026
Finland continues to lead the global rankings, marking its ninth consecutive year in first place with a score of 7.764. Other Nordic countries also feature prominently among the highest-ranked nations.
Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all placed within the top six, reinforcing the region’s long-standing presence at the top of the index.
Costa Rica ranked fourth, representing the highest position ever achieved by a Latin American country in the report.
Other countries in the top 10 include the Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, with scores above seven on the life evaluation scale.
Countries at the lower end of the ranking
Countries ranked near the bottom include Cameroon, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan was placed last at 147th.
The rankings illustrate wide global variation in how residents assess their living conditions and overall well-being.
How the rankings are calculated
The World Happiness Report is based on survey data collected from individuals living in each country rather than citizens specifically. A total of 147 countries were included in the 2026 edition.
Participants are asked to evaluate their lives using the Cantril Ladder, which measures perceived quality of life on a scale from zero to 10.
Scores are averaged over a three-year period from 2023 to 2025. Around 1,000 responses are gathered annually per country to ensure representative national data.
Key factors linked to life satisfaction
The report examines several indicators associated with well-being, including income levels, access to social support, life expectancy, personal freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
These variables help explain differences in outcomes between countries but are not used directly to determine rankings.
The report also draws attention to shifts in well-being among younger populations, particularly in countries within the NANZ grouping, which includes North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Youth well-being trends
A notable finding in the 2026 report is a decline in self-reported life satisfaction among people under the age of 25 in several high-income countries, including Canada.
This trend has contributed to overall ranking changes and reflects broader shifts in how younger individuals assess their circumstances.
The report also notes a relationship between increased social media use and lower well-being perceptions among younger age groups, although the data highlights correlation rather than direct causation.
Relevance for Canada’s broader context
Canada’s position in global well-being rankings is often considered alongside other social and economic indicators that shape quality of life. These include access to healthcare, employment conditions, and social support systems.
Population changes driven by immigration also contribute to Canada’s demographic and social landscape. Programs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program are part of regional efforts to support economic and community development, with tools like the MPNP points calculator used to assess eligibility criteria.
While the World Happiness Report does not measure immigration outcomes directly, it provides context for understanding overall living conditions within destination countries.
Ongoing monitoring of global well-being
The World Happiness Report continues to serve as a widely referenced measure of life satisfaction across countries. Its methodology and long-term data allow for year-over-year comparisons.
Canada’s 2026 ranking reflects both its continued placement among higher-ranked countries and a downward shift over recent years.
Further updates are expected in future editions as global conditions and domestic factors continue to evolve.
Additional coverage on Canadian immigration trends and policy developments is available through related reporting and analytical tools.