Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s ranking in the World Happiness Report continues a downward trend, landing at 67th place out of 147 countries in the 2026 edition released today. The report, published by Gallup, the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, reveals a score of 6.040 out of 10 for South Koreans, marking a further decline from 58th place last year and 52nd place the year before.
While South Korea maintains relatively high scores in areas like GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy, the report highlights shortcomings in social support, freedom to make life choices, and perceptions of corruption as contributing factors to its lower overall ranking. This comes as Canada, a nation often viewed as a benchmark for quality of life, experienced its own dip, falling to 25th place – a seven-spot decrease from its 18th-place position last year, with a happiness score of 6.741.
A Global Snapshot of Well-being
The World Happiness Report, now in its annual iteration, relies on data collected from surveys and statistical analysis spanning 2023 to 2025. It assesses overall life quality based on respondents’ subjective evaluations, alongside six key factors: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. The report is released annually around March 20th, coinciding with the International Day of Happiness.
For the ninth consecutive year, Finland topped the list with a score of 7.764, followed by Iceland (7.540) and Denmark (7.539). Costa Rica secured a surprising fourth place (7.439), standing out as a leader in Central and South America. Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands rounded out the top seven, continuing the dominance of Nordic nations in the rankings.
South Korea’s Challenges and Strengths
According to the report, South Korea performs relatively well in economic prosperity and healthcare, reflected in its scores for GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy. It also demonstrates a degree of social support and freedom to make life choices. However, the country lags behind its peers in areas related to civic engagement and trust in institutions. Specifically, South Korea’s scores for charitable giving and perceptions of low corruption are significantly lower than those of the top-ranked nations.
This pattern suggests that while South Korea has made significant strides in economic development and public health, it faces challenges in fostering a strong sense of community and ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. These factors appear to be crucial determinants of overall well-being, as highlighted by the report’s methodology.
Global Resilience Amidst Conflict
The 2026 report also offers a glimpse into how global events impact happiness levels. Notably, Israel, despite ongoing conflict, maintained a relatively high ranking of 8th place with a score of 7.187, demonstrating a degree of resilience. Conversely, Russia and Ukraine, directly involved in the conflict in Europe, ranked lower at 79th and 111th place, respectively.
Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the rankings with a score of 1.446. The report did not include data for North Korea.
World Happiness Report Rankings (Selected Countries)
- 1. Finland
- 2. Iceland
- 3. Denmark
- 4. Costa Rica
- 5. Sweden
- 23. United States
- 25. Canada
- 61. Japan
- 67. South Korea
Looking Ahead
The World Happiness Report serves as a valuable benchmark for assessing quality of life and identifying areas for improvement. As South Korea continues to navigate economic and social challenges, addressing issues related to social support, civic engagement, and institutional trust will be crucial for enhancing the well-being of its citizens. The report’s findings underscore the importance of a holistic approach to development, one that prioritizes not only economic growth but also social cohesion and good governance. Further updates and detailed findings from the 2026 World Happiness Report will be available on the Gallup website in the coming days.
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