Young Americans under 30 are driving the decline, feeling less supported by family and friends|Tsaiproject|CC BY 2.0
The US dropped to 24th place in the 2025 World Happiness Report.
The decline follows a tough economic climate and political uncertainty. In 2024, the US ranked 23rd, already eight spots lower than in 2023.
Young Americans under 30 are driving the decline, feeling less supported by family and friends, less optimistic about their future and less free to make life choices.
The percentage of young people believing in their freedom to choose has dropped 10 points since 2020.
Meanwhile, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden remain the happiest nations. The report noted that none of the world’s large industrial powers ranked in the top 20.