It seems that Canadians are once again among the happiest citizens in the world, according to this year’s World Happiness Report for 2024.
Despite being one of the most expensive countries to retire in, we were previously ranked the second best country in the world in 2023, so naturally, it’s expected that our citizens are generally content.
The annual report assesses a variety of factors to determine overall contentment from respondents across 143 countries, and Canada claimed the 15th spot on the list, just after Austria and before Belgium.
The study conducted by The Gallup World Poll takes a look at a three-year scale, which is averaged from years 2021 to 2023.
Participants are then asked to evaluate their current life as a whole, using a single-item Cantril ladder life-evaluation.
Six variables are also observed, which include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption. However, these variables are not used to rank the countries.
Around 1,000 responses are taken from each country before they are ranked for overall happiness.
Respondents then use the image of the ladder to rank their lives between 0, which is the worst possible life, and 10, the best possible life.
Out of 10, Canada’s average life evaluation score came in at 6.900. In the top place, Finland’s evaluation came in at 7.741, compared to Afghanistan in the last out of 143 countries, with an evaluation of 1.721.
As for our neighbours to the south in the United States, they placed below Canada in the 23rd position, with a score of 6.725.
Last year, Canada ranked 13 on the list, so we have unfortunately dropped a few spots; however, we are still within the top 20, which is pretty great overall!
Check out the full report here on their website.