2026-03-21 00:47:14
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Extreme weather has caused more than 832,000 deaths worldwide since 1995, along with trillions in economic damage. But the human toll varies widely by hazard.
This visualization compares the deadliest types of extreme weather worldwide from 1995 to 2024, based on data from Germanwatch’s Climate Risk Index 2026, revealing how fatalities and economic losses differ across hazards.
More than 832,000 people died due to extreme weather events from 1995 to 2024, which also caused $4.5 trillion in direct economic damage — almost as much as the UK’s GDP.
Below, we show how different extreme weather events stack up. The data reveals a clear divide between events that cause the most fatalities and those that drive the greatest economic losses.
| Hazard | Total Global Deaths (1995-2024) | Economic Loss (Billion USD, Inflation-Adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| Heat wave | 278,395 | 32.9 |
| Storm | 274,753 | 2,637.3 |
| Flood | 205,452 | 1,314.0 |
| Drought | 25,283 | 287.0 |
| Wildfire | 2,791 | 177.6 |
| Other* | 45,611 | 65.0 |
| Total | 832,285 | 4,313.8 |
Heatwaves were the deadliest type of extreme weather events, accounting for 278,395 global fatalities. Heat can exacerbate existing health conditions, while heat stroke can be life-threatening.
However, it had the lowest economic loss at $32.9 billion, highlighting that it can be a silent killer without a trail of destruction behind it like other extreme weather events.
Some of the deadliest heatwaves took place in typically mild regions. In 2022, over 60,000 people died in Europe amid extreme heat, while 56,000 people perished in a 2010 Russian heatwave.
Storms followed closely with 274,750 fatalities; they also racked up the largest bill, at $2.6 trillion. Some countries are more exposed than others, facing storms and cyclones on a recurring basis.
Myanmar experienced significant losses in 2008 when Cyclone Nargis caused over 138,000 fatalities, while in Honduras Hurricane Mitch caused $7 billion worth of damage and 14,000 deaths. Both countries have high risks of hurricanes and hazards.
Flooding, which includes both flash floods and river floods, was responsible for 205,452 deaths and $1.3 trillion of economic damage.
Drought and wildfires were responsible for 25,283 and 2,791 excess deaths, respectively. They cost countries $287.0 billion and $177.6 billion in direct damage.
Other events, including cold waves, severe winter conditions, mass movement and glacier lake outburst floods, collectively saw 45,611 deaths and resulted in the second-lowest level of economic damage, at $65 billion.
The Climate Risk Index noted that extreme weather events disproportionately impact the Global South; six out of 10 of the most affected countries between 1995 and 2024 were lower-middle-income, per the report.
Such countries are on the frontlines of climate change but have the least economic capacity to adapt to it.
The need to support developing nations has been widely recognized. At COP30 in Brazil, international governments agreed to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate action and triple adaptation financing by 2035.
To learn more about how extreme weather affects the economy, check out this graphic which charts its impact on the U.S.
2026-03-20 21:23:13
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Over the last decade, the world’s happiest countries have remained remarkably consistent at the top, with Nordic nations dominating the rankings year after year. But beneath that stability, there have been notable shifts—including Costa Rica’s recent surge into the top five and the disappearance of countries like Canada and Australia from the top 10.
This chart tracks how the world’s happiest countries have moved up and down the rankings each year since 2015, based on survey data from over 140 countries compiled by Gallup and published in the 2026 World Happiness Report
Finland has now held the top spot for nine consecutive years, while several longtime contenders have slipped or dropped out entirely.
Scandinavian and Northern European countries overall have dominated the top of the leaderboard over the last decade, with Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden consistently scoring alongside Finland among the top five countries worldwide.
The following tables highlight annual rankings in 2015 and 2025 of the world’s happiest countries. Each year’s score is averaged with the previous two years, meaning 2015’s results reflect data from 2013–2015.
| Rank | Country | Score (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Denmark |
7.526 |
| 2 |
Switzerland |
7.509 |
| 3 |
Iceland |
7.501 |
| 4 |
Norway |
7.498 |
| 5 |
Finland |
7.413 |
| 6 |
Canada |
7.404 |
| 7 |
Netherlands |
7.339 |
| 8 |
New Zealand |
7.334 |
| 9 |
Australia |
7.313 |
| 10 |
Sweden |
7.291 |
And here’s how the top 10 looked in 2025, the most recent year covered:
| Rank | Country | Score (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Finland |
7.764 |
| 2 |
Iceland |
7.54 |
| 3 |
Denmark |
7.539 |
| 4 |
Costa Rica |
7.439 |
| 5 |
Sweden |
7.255 |
| 6 |
Norway |
7.242 |
| 7 |
Netherlands |
7.223 |
| 8 |
Israel |
7.187 |
| 9 |
Luxembourg |
7.063 |
| 10 |
Switzerland |
7.018 |
The Nordic model’s success in building relatively egalitarian and prosperous societies is often cited as a key reason for these consistently high rankings.
In addition, given the methodology’s subjective nature, social and cultural norms almost certainly factor into the countries’ consistently high scores relative to other regions of Europe and the world.
Meanwhile, Western European peers have also been mainstays in the last decade’s annual top 10 rankings.
The Netherlands has placed at least seventh every year of the 2015-2025 period, while Luxembourg has made regular appearances in the top 10 since 2019.
Switzerland has made appearances in every year’s top 10 with the exception of 2024, although its overall ranking has substantially dropped since its second-place peak in 2015. Austria, a regular top 10 scorer up to 2020, has made no post-pandemic appearances.
Beyond Europe, countries from every continent except Africa and South America have ranked among the 10 happiest countries worldwide between 2015 and 2025.
Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have each made sporadic appearances in the years up to 2024, while Israel has been a regular high-scorer since it first entered the top 10 in 2021.
Two Latin American countries have also made appearances in recent years, with Mexico reaching tenth in 2024 and Costa Rica soaring to a dramatic fourth-place finish in 2025.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Visualizing Happiness Across the Americas on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
2026-03-20 19:36:23
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Rents across major U.S. cities have surged 36% since 2020, reflecting the ripple effects of pandemic migration, tight housing supply, and rising demand in Sun Belt metros.
Using data from Zillow, this visualization compares rent inflation across 30 major U.S. cities between 2020 and January 2026, revealing where prices have climbed the fastest, and where growth has been more subdued.
Some cities have seen rent increases of more than 50%, while others have experienced significantly slower growth despite already high housing costs.
Since 2020, Miami has seen the fastest rent growth in the U.S., with prices soaring 53%.
| Rank | City | Change in Rental Cost 2020-2026 |
Average Monthly Rent Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami, FL | 53% | $2,645 |
| 2 | Tampa, FL | 50% | $1,986 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | 48% | $2,464 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | 44% | $1,409 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | 43% | $1,522 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | 42% | $1,455 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | 41% | $2,871 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | 38% | $1,812 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | 37% | $2,091 |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | 37% | $1,917 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | 36% | $1,718 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | 36% | $1,716 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | 36% | $1,704 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | 34% | $1,849 |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | 34% | $2,197 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | 32% | $1,449 |
| 17 | New York, NY | 32% | $3,232 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | 32% | $1,855 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | 29% | $3,049 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | 28% | $2,885 |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | 27% | $1,633 |
| 22 | Seattle, WA | 25% | $2,183 |
| 23 | Portland, OR | 25% | $1,778 |
| 24 | Washington, DC | 24% | $2,333 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | 22% | $1,612 |
| 26 | Minneapolis, MN | 22% | $1,665 |
| 27 | Denver, CO | 19% | $1,838 |
| 28 | San Antonio, TX | 17% | $1,380 |
| 29 | Austin, TX | 14% | $1,561 |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | 13% | $3,064 |
Back in 2020, rent in Miami cost $1,725, based on typical mid-market rents adjusted for the local housing mix.
By January 2026, it climbed to $2,645, now higher than rents in Seattle and Washington, DC. This coincided with a pandemic-era migration wave that added roughly 250,000 residents to the region.
Tampa ranks second, with 50% rent inflation. While monthly rent remains more affordable than Miami, at $1,986, prices have shot up by $664. Even more strikingly, the Tampa Bay region grew by 497,000 residents, likely owing to its relative affordability.
While Riverside and San Diego saw among the fastest-growing rents nationwide, San Francisco price growth was muted.
Riverside rents boomed 48% as residents moved away from costlier California metros. Over the period, rents jumped $795, reaching $2,464 per month, marking the third-highest increase across cities analyzed.
By contrast, San Francisco saw the slowest rent growth, rising just 13% since 2020. Amid growing affordability concerns, roughly 116,000 residents left the city, helping ease pressure on rental prices.
Notably, Austin followed a similar pattern of slower rent growth, with prices rising 14% over the period. Unlike San Francisco, however, the key factor was record apartment construction that significantly increased supply and moderated rent increases.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the world’s top 20 cities with sky-high rent.
2026-03-19 20:43:59
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The world’s happiest countries are often ranked, but looking at happiness scores from the latest 2026 World Happiness Report in relation to population gives a clearer view of the global population’s happiness or unhappiness.
While Nordic nations consistently top global happiness rankings, they represent only a small fraction of the world’s population. Meanwhile, billions of people live in countries with more moderate—or lower—levels of life satisfaction.
Using data from the 2026 World Happiness Report, this visualization combines happiness scores with population data from the UN World Population Prospects to reveal how happiness is truly distributed across the globe.
At the top of the rankings, countries like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland continue to report the highest levels of life satisfaction.
Life satisfaction was measured using the Cantril Ladder, which asked people to rate their lives on a scale of 0-10, where 10 represents the best possible life, and 0 represents the worst. Rankings averaged data over three years, to better capture happiness and well-being.
The data table below shows the happiness score and population of each country in the 2026 World Happiness Report:
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score | Population | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Finland |
7.8 | 5.6M | Europe |
| 2 |
Iceland |
7.5 | 398K | Europe |
| 3 |
Denmark |
7.5 | 6.0M | Europe |
| 4 |
Costa Rica |
7.4 | 5.2M | North America |
| 5 |
Sweden |
7.3 | 10.7M | Europe |
| 6 |
Norway |
7.2 | 5.6M | Europe |
| 7 |
Netherlands |
7.2 | 18.3M | Europe |
| 8 |
Israel |
7.2 | 9.5M | Asia |
| 9 |
Luxembourg |
7.1 | 680K | Europe |
| 10 |
Switzerland |
7.0 | 9.0M | Europe |
| 11 |
New Zealand |
7.0 | 5.3M | Oceania |
| 12 |
Mexico |
7.0 | 131.9M | North America |
| 13 |
Ireland |
6.9 | 5.3M | Europe |
| 14 |
Belgium |
6.9 | 11.8M | Europe |
| 15 |
Australia |
6.9 | 27.0M | Oceania |
| 16 |
Kosovo |
6.9 | 1.7M | Europe |
| 17 |
Germany |
6.9 | 84.1M | Europe |
| 18 |
Slovenia |
6.9 | 2.1M | Europe |
| 19 |
Austria |
6.8 | 9.1M | Europe |
| 20 |
Czechia |
6.8 | 11.3M | Europe |
| 21 |
United Arab Emirates |
6.8 | 10.6M | Asia |
| 22 |
Saudi Arabia |
6.8 | 34.6M | Asia |
| 23 |
United States |
6.8 | 347.3M | North America |
| 24 |
Poland |
6.8 | 38.1M | Europe |
| 25 |
Canada |
6.7 | 40.1M | North America |
| 26 |
Taiwan |
6.7 | 23.1M | Asia |
| 27 |
Belize |
6.7 | 423K | North America |
| 28 |
Lithuania |
6.7 | 2.8M | Europe |
| 29 |
United Kingdom |
6.7 | 69.6M | Europe |
| 30 |
Serbia |
6.7 | 6.7M | Europe |
| 31 |
Uruguay |
6.6 | 3.4M | South America |
| 32 |
Brazil |
6.6 | 212.8M | South America |
| 33 |
Kazakhstan |
6.6 | 20.8M | Asia |
| 34 |
Romania |
6.6 | 18.9M | Europe |
| 35 |
France |
6.6 | 66.7M | Europe |
| 36 |
Singapore |
6.6 | 5.9M | Asia |
| 37 |
El Salvador |
6.6 | 6.4M | North America |
| 38 |
Italy |
6.6 | 59.1M | Europe |
| 39 |
Panama |
6.5 | 4.6M | North America |
| 40 |
Kuwait |
6.5 | 5.0M | Asia |
| 41 |
Spain |
6.5 | 47.9M | Europe |
| 42 |
Guatemala |
6.5 | 18.7M | North America |
| 43 |
Malta |
6.4 | 545K | Europe |
| 44 |
Argentina |
6.4 | 45.9M | South America |
| 45 |
Viet Nam |
6.4 | 101.6M | Asia |
| 46 |
Estonia |
6.4 | 1.3M | Europe |
| 47 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
6.4 | 3.1M | Europe |
| 48 |
Latvia |
6.4 | 1.9M | Europe |
| 49 |
Jamaica |
6.3 | 2.8M | North America |
| 50 |
Chile |
6.3 | 19.9M | South America |
| 51 |
Nicaragua |
6.3 | 7.0M | North America |
| 52 |
Thailand |
6.3 | 71.6M | Asia |
| 53 |
Uzbekistan |
6.3 | 37.1M | Asia |
| 54 |
Slovakia |
6.3 | 5.5M | Europe |
| 55 |
Bahrain |
6.3 | 1.6M | Asia |
| 56 |
Philippines |
6.2 | 116.8M | Asia |
| 57 |
Paraguay |
6.2 | 7.0M | South America |
| 58 |
Oman |
6.2 | 5.5M | Asia |
| 59 |
Ecuador |
6.1 | 18.3M | South America |
| 60 |
Montenegro |
6.1 | 633K | Europe |
| 61 |
Japan |
6.1 | 123.1M | Asia |
| 62 |
Cyprus |
6.1 | 1.4M | Europe |
| 63 |
Honduras |
6.1 | 11.0M | North America |
| 64 |
Dominican Republic |
6.1 | 11.5M | North America |
| 65 |
China |
6.1 | 1.42B | Asia |
| 66 |
Kyrgyzstan |
6.0 | 7.3M | Asia |
| 67 |
Republic of Korea |
6.0 | 53.4M | Asia |
| 68 |
Colombia |
6.0 | 51.7M | South America |
| 69 |
Portugal |
6.0 | 10.4M | Europe |
| 70 |
Croatia |
6.0 | 3.8M | Europe |
| 71 |
Malaysia |
6.0 | 36.0M | Asia |
| 72 |
Peru |
6.0 | 34.6M | South America |
| 73 |
Mauritius |
5.9 | 1.3M | Africa |
| 74 |
Hungary |
5.9 | 9.6M | Europe |
| 75 |
Mongolia |
5.9 | 3.5M | Asia |
| 76 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
5.9 | 1.5M | North America |
| 77 |
Republic of Moldova |
5.9 | 3.0M | Europe |
| 78 |
Bolivia |
5.8 | 12.6M | South America |
| 79 |
Russian Federation |
5.8 | 144.0M | Europe |
| 80 |
Venezuela |
5.8 | 28.5M | South America |
| 81 |
Libya |
5.7 | 7.5M | Africa |
| 82 |
North Macedonia |
5.7 | 1.8M | Europe |
| 83 |
Algeria |
5.7 | 47.4M | Africa |
| 84 |
Bulgaria |
5.7 | 6.7M | Europe |
| 85 |
Greece |
5.7 | 9.9M | Europe |
| 86 |
Albania |
5.7 | 2.8M | Europe |
| 87 |
Indonesia |
5.6 | 285.7M | Asia |
| 88 |
Tajikistan |
5.6 | 10.8M | Asia |
| 89 |
Armenia |
5.6 | 3.0M | Asia |
| 90 |
Hong Kong SAR |
5.6 | 7.4M | Asia |
| 91 |
Georgia |
5.5 | 3.8M | Asia |
| 92 |
Lao PDR |
5.5 | 7.9M | Asia |
| 93 |
Mozambique |
5.3 | 35.6M | Africa |
| 94 |
Türkiye |
5.3 | 87.7M | Asia |
| 95 |
Iraq |
5.2 | 47.0M | Asia |
| 96 |
Gabon |
5.2 | 2.6M | Africa |
| 97 |
Iran |
5.2 | 92.4M | Asia |
| 98 |
Côte d’Ivoire |
5.1 | 32.7M | Africa |
| 99 |
Nepal |
5.1 | 29.6M | Asia |
| 100 |
Cameroon |
5.1 | 29.9M | Africa |
| 101 |
South Africa |
5.0 | 64.7M | Africa |
| 102 |
Azerbaijan |
5.0 | 10.4M | Asia |
| 103 |
Niger |
4.9 | 27.9M | Africa |
| 104 |
Pakistan |
4.9 | 255.2M | Asia |
| 105 |
Tunisia |
4.8 | 12.3M | Africa |
| 106 |
Nigeria |
4.8 | 237.5M | Africa |
| 107 |
Senegal |
4.8 | 18.9M | Africa |
| 108 |
Namibia |
4.8 | 3.1M | Africa |
| 109 |
State of Palestine |
4.7 | 5.6M | Asia |
| 110 |
Kenya |
4.7 | 57.5M | Africa |
| 111 |
Ukraine |
4.7 | 39.0M | Europe |
| 112 |
Morocco |
4.6 | 38.4M | Africa |
| 113 |
Guinea |
4.6 | 15.1M | Africa |
| 114 |
Mali |
4.6 | 25.2M | Africa |
| 115 |
Ghana |
4.6 | 35.1M | Africa |
| 116 |
India |
4.5 | 1.46B | Asia |
| 117 |
Somalia |
4.5 | 19.7M | Africa |
| 118 |
Uganda |
4.5 | 51.4M | Africa |
| 119 |
Jordan |
4.5 | 11.5M | Asia |
| 120 |
Mauritania |
4.5 | 5.3M | Africa |
| 121 |
Cambodia |
4.5 | 17.8M | Asia |
| 122 |
Congo |
4.5 | 6.5M | Africa |
| 123 |
Burkina Faso |
4.5 | 24.1M | Africa |
| 124 |
Benin |
4.4 | 14.8M | Africa |
| 125 |
Chad |
4.4 | 21.0M | Africa |
| 126 |
Lesotho |
4.4 | 2.4M | Africa |
| 127 |
Bangladesh |
4.3 | 175.7M | Asia |
| 128 |
Gambia |
4.3 | 21.9M | Africa |
| 129 |
Myanmar |
4.3 | 54.9M | Asia |
| 130 |
Liberia |
4.3 | 5.7M | Africa |
| 131 |
Togo |
4.3 | 9.7M | Africa |
| 132 |
Madagascar |
4.2 | 32.7M | Africa |
| 133 |
Zambia |
4.1 | 21.9M | Africa |
| 134 |
Sri Lanka |
4.0 | 23.2M | Asia |
| 135 |
Ethiopia |
4.0 | 135.5M | Africa |
| 136 |
Comoros |
3.9 | 883K | Africa |
| 137 |
Eswatini |
3.9 | 1.3M | Africa |
| 138 |
Tanzania |
3.9 | 70.5M | Africa |
| 139 |
Egypt |
3.9 | 118.4M | Africa |
| 140 |
DR Congo |
3.8 | 112.8M | Africa |
| 141 |
Lebanon |
3.7 | 5.8M | Asia |
| 142 |
Yemen |
3.5 | 41.8M | Asia |
| 143 |
Botswana |
3.5 | 2.6M | Africa |
| 144 |
Zimbabwe |
3.3 | 17.0M | Africa |
| 145 |
Malawi |
3.3 | 22.2M | Africa |
| 146 |
Sierra Leone |
3.3 | 8.8M | Africa |
| 147 |
Afghanistan |
1.4 | 43.8M | Asia |
Across all nations in the top 10, populations stood below 20 million, or well under it.
Mexico, meanwhile, stood as a clear outlier. Ranking in 12th globally, it not only holds a 131.9 million population, but it outranks several major economies like Germany and the UK which have significantly smaller populations.
Moreover, the U.S. (#23), Brazil (#32), and Vietnam (#45) are among the few large populations that rank in the top 50.
With nearly a 1.5 billion population, India is the world’s most populous nation, but ranks 116th overall in happiness.
Covering 17% of the global population, India ranks below countries like Ukraine, Venezuela, and Iran. Despite strong economic growth, this has yet to translate into improved lived experience across its population.
China, the world’s second-most populous country, ranked significantly higher. In the past decade, its ranking has climbed from 79th to 65th, although it still remains lower than most other major economies.
Together, these population giants highlight a key reality: global happiness is shaped far more by where most people live than by which countries rank at the top.
While the happiest nations tend to dominate headlines, they represent only a small share of humanity. In contrast, billions of people live in countries where happiness levels are more moderate—or still developing—shifting the true center of global well-being away from the top of the rankings.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries with the highest and lowest life expectancy in the world.
2026-03-19 15:01:00
India’s AI boom is poised to reshape one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. According to PwC, artificial intelligence could contribute between $550 billion and $607 billion to India’s GDP by 2035, equivalent to roughly 6% of total GDP.
This visualization, created in partnership with Adobe, explores how AI could unlock hundreds of billions in economic value across India’s key industries. The projected gains reflect not just technological innovation, but a broad productivity shift across foundational sectors of the economy.
AI‑powered productivity tools are driving this shift by streamlining everyday document workflows. They help teams analyze information faster, collaborate more efficiently, and turn data into decisions seamlessly.
Manufacturing is expected to see the largest gains, generating between $235.0 billion (low estimate) and $259.1 billion (high estimate) in value. From predictive maintenance to intelligent automation and supply chain optimization, AI could help Indian manufacturers increase output while lowering costs.
| Sector | Value Creation (high) ($ billions) | Value Creation (low) ($ billions) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 153.9 | 139.3 |
| Education | 77.6 | 70.2 |
| Energy Utilities | 84.6 | 76.6 |
| Health | 32.1 | 29.1 |
| Manufacturing | 259.1 | 235.0 |
| Total | 607.3 | 550.2 |
Agriculture follows closely behind, with $139.3–$153.9 billion in projected value creation. AI-driven crop monitoring, smarter irrigation, and advanced weather forecasting could significantly improve yields and reduce waste in a sector that employs millions.
Other sectors also stand to benefit:
In the education sector, AI is streamlining administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus on high-value activities that enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes.
Altogether, these sector gains total between $550.2 and $607.3 billion by 2035.
AI transformation doesn’t begin with futuristic robotics—it starts by improving everyday document workflows. Tasks like editing reports, reviewing scanned files, or updating PDFs are increasingly handled through browser‑based PDF tools that help simplify routine workflows and support faster decision‑making.

Explore AI-powered Document Workflows.

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The U.S. tops the list with nearly 4,000 data centers.
2026-03-19 08:02:08
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Every year, the World Happiness Report reveals where people feel most satisfied with their lives, and where they don’t.
This graphic uses data from the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report to show the happiest and unhappiest countries in the world.
The report ranks 147 countries using data from the Gallup World Poll, where respondents score their lives on a scale from 0 to 10, known as the Cantril Ladder. The rankings are based on a three-year average from 2023 to 2025, offering a more stable snapshot of global well-being.
Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country as of the 2026 report, extending a streak that has lasted nine consecutive years.
Alongside Iceland and Denmark, it highlights that high trust in institutions and quality of life remain key drivers of well-being.
The data table below ranks the top 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:
| Rank | Country | Life evaluation (3-year average) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Finland |
7.8 |
| 2 |
Iceland |
7.5 |
| 3 |
Denmark |
7.5 |
| 4 |
Costa Rica |
7.4 |
| 5 |
Sweden |
7.3 |
| 6 |
Norway |
7.2 |
| 7 |
Netherlands |
7.2 |
| 8 |
Israel |
7.2 |
| 9 |
Luxembourg |
7.1 |
| 10 |
Switzerland |
7.0 |
| 11 |
New Zealand |
7.0 |
| 12 |
Mexico |
7.0 |
| 13 |
Ireland |
6.9 |
| 14 |
Belgium |
6.9 |
| 15 |
Australia |
6.9 |
| 16 |
Kosovo |
6.9 |
| 17 |
Germany |
6.9 |
| 18 |
Slovenia |
6.9 |
| 19 |
Austria |
6.8 |
| 20 |
Czechia |
6.8 |
| 21 |
United Arab Emirates |
6.8 |
| 22 |
Saudi Arabia |
6.8 |
| 23 |
United States |
6.8 |
| 24 |
Poland |
6.8 |
| 25 |
Canada |
6.7 |
| 26 |
Taiwan |
6.7 |
| 27 |
Belize |
6.7 |
| 28 |
Lithuania |
6.7 |
| 29 |
United Kingdom |
6.7 |
| 30 |
Serbia |
6.7 |
Beyond Europe, Costa Rica and Mexico are notable standouts, ranking in the global top 10 and outperforming many wealthier nations. Costa Rica’s rise to fourth is the strongest recording ever for a Latin American nation, while Mexico has jumped to 12th spot up from 36th in 2022.
The U.S. ranks 23rd, one of its lowest positions on record.
This follows a broadly declining trend seen over the past 15 years. The U.S. ranked 11th in 2011, but by 2024 it had fallen down to its lowest ranking of 24th. A key driver is the sharp drop in well-being among younger Americans, often linked to rising social media use and declining mental health.
Elsewhere, Israel ranks eighth, making it the highest-ranked country in the Middle East, followed by the UAE (21st) and Saudi Arabia (22nd). In Asia, Taiwan stands out as the only country to make the global top 30, ranking 26th overall.
Afghanistan ranks as the world’s unhappiest country, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.
For years, Afghanistan’s political instability, war, and restrictions on rights and freedoms has led to an increased sense of hopelessness. Over the course of the past decade, its score has dropped from 3.8 in 2016 to just 1.4.
The data table below ranks the bottom 30 countries by their happiness score from the World Happiness Report 2026:
| Rank | Canada | Life evaluation (3-year average) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Afghanistan |
1.4 |
| 2 |
Sierra Leone |
3.3 |
| 3 |
Malawi |
3.3 |
| 4 |
Zimbabwe |
3.3 |
| 5 |
Botswana |
3.5 |
| 6 |
Yemen |
3.5 |
| 7 |
Lebanon |
3.7 |
| 8 |
DR Congo |
3.8 |
| 9 |
Egypt |
3.9 |
| 10 |
Tanzania |
3.9 |
| 11 |
Eswatini |
3.9 |
| 12 |
Comoros |
3.9 |
| 13 |
Ethiopia |
4.0 |
| 14 |
Sri Lanka |
4.0 |
| 15 |
Zambia |
4.1 |
| 16 |
Madagascar |
4.2 |
| 17 |
Togo |
4.3 |
| 18 |
Liberia |
4.3 |
| 19 |
Myanmar |
4.3 |
| 20 |
Gambia |
4.3 |
| 21 |
Bangladesh |
4.3 |
| 22 |
Lesotho |
4.4 |
| 23 |
Chad |
4.4 |
| 24 |
Benin |
4.4 |
| 25 |
Burkina Faso |
4.5 |
| 26 |
Congo |
4.5 |
| 27 |
Cambodia |
4.5 |
| 28 |
Mauritania |
4.5 |
| 29 |
Jordan |
4.5 |
| 30 |
Uganda |
4.5 |
Myanmar also ranks among the least happy countries globally, as ongoing conflict between the military junta and rebel groups since 2021 has displaced millions and deepened a severe humanitarian crisis.
Political upheaval has also swept across other Asian countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, amid economic difficulties. In recent years, both countries have seen protests that led to the ousting of their leaders.
Ultimately, the global happiness rankings reveal a clear divide: countries with stability, strong institutions, and social support systems consistently rank highest, while those facing conflict and uncertainty continue to fall behind.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on the countries where people live the longest.