Teen Happiness Falls in Western Countries as Social Media Hours Rise

Finland remains the world's happiest country for a ninth consecutive year, according to the 2026 World Happiness Report. The findings link heavy social media use to a sharp decline in young people's wellbeing, with teenage girls in English-speaking countries and Western Europe most affected.

Costa Rica has entered the top five for the first time, rising to fourth place from 23rd in 2023. The report credits strong family ties and social connections for the surge.

Nordic nations again dominate the rankings. Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway all placed in the top 10, with wealth, equality, strong welfare systems and high life expectancy cited as contributing factors.

Top 10 happiest countries

The rankings are: Finland (1), Iceland (2), Denmark (3), Costa Rica (4), Sweden (5), Norway (6), Netherlands (7), Israel (8), Luxembourg (9) and Switzerland (10).

No English-speaking country made the top 10 for a second straight year. The United States ranked 23rd, Canada 25th and the United Kingdom 29th. Australia dropped out of the top 10 in 2025 and remains at 15th.

Social media and youth wellbeing

The report found a marked drop in life satisfaction among under-25s in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand over the past decade, with prolonged social media use identified as a key contributor.

Platforms driven by algorithms, influencers and visual content were found most harmful, while those focused on communication were linked to better outcomes.

The relationship between social media use and wellbeing was more positive in regions such as the Middle East and South America, where youth wellbeing had not declined despite high usage.

Policy response

The findings come as the Australian government raised the minimum age for 10 social media platforms from 13 to 16. Denmark, France and Spain are considering similar measures.

The report's findings are intended to inform policymakers weighing such restrictions.

Conflict and rankings

Countries affected by conflict remain at the bottom of the rankings, with Afghanistan ranked last.

Israel ranked eighth despite ongoing conflicts with multiple countries, suggesting other factors such as social cohesion and economic stability outweigh the impact of conflict on overall life satisfaction.

Methodology

The annual report is based on data from 2023 to 2025, using a life evaluation measure known as the Cantril Ladder. More than 100,000 people across 140 countries are asked to rate their lives on a scale from zero to 10.

The approach has drawn criticism from some academics who argue it may prompt respondents to focus on wealth and status rather than other aspects of wellbeing.

A Lund University researcher said the ladder reflected people's income levels and social status to a larger degree than other wellbeing metrics.

Regional differences

The report found significant variation across regions. Youth wellbeing in the Middle East and South America remained stable despite high social media usage, suggesting that cultural and social factors play a significant role in moderating the impact of platforms.

Researchers noted that platforms focused on communication, such as messaging apps, were associated with better wellbeing outcomes than those driven by algorithmic feeds and influencer content.

The findings support recent policy moves to restrict social media access for minors, though the report stops short of recommending specific age limits.

What comes next

The Australian government's decision to raise the minimum age for social media from 13 to 16 has been watched closely by other countries. Denmark, France and Spain are considering similar measures.

The report's authors say the findings should inform ongoing policy debates about regulating social media access for young people, while acknowledging that more research is needed to understand regional differences.

The 2027 report is expected to track whether these policy interventions have any measurable impact on youth wellbeing in countries that have implemented age restrictions.