Canada has been ranked 25th out of 147 countries in the 2026 World Happiness Report, which evaluates global well-being by country.
This year, Canada placed two spots below the US and ranked between Poland, in 24th place, and Taiwan, in 26th.
The annual report was published on March 19, in partnership with Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Canada’s standing in the World Happiness Report
Canada is one of only five countries in North America that placed within the top 25 happiest countries in the world.
Although Canada has continued to place relatively high in the report, its 2026 ranking marks a significant decline from its 18th-place ranking in 2025.
Canada received a life evaluation score of 6.741, ranking ahead of countries such as the United Kingdom (29th), France (35th), Italy (38th), and Spain (41st).
According to the report, this downward trend is not limited to Canada. Similar patterns were observed in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand—driven in part by how young people under 25 years of age assess their overall well-being.
Here’s a look at how Canada ranked over the last several years, showcasing how the country’s rank has shifted year by year in the past:
| Year | Global happiness ranking |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 18 |
Happiest countries in the world
This year’s World Happiness Report saw Mexico drop out of the top 10 happiest countries ranking; all other countries in the top 10 remained the same, with ranks having shifted.
Finland once again ranked first, with a life evaluation score of 7.764 out of 10. It is the ninth consecutive year the country has held the top spot.
Since the World Happiness Report was first published in 2013, Nordic countries have consistently dominated the rankings.
Costa Rica was a notable standout this year, placing fourth—the highest ranking ever achieved by a Latin American country.
The table below shows the top 10 happiest countries in 2026 and their life evaluation scores.