UAE ranks above UK, US and Germany in UN-sponsored World Happiness Report

The UAE trumped some of the biggest names in the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness Report which was revealed on Thursday on the International Day of Happiness.

With a ranking of 21, UAE is placed ahead of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany in the list of happiest countries.

The UAE is the only Gulf country listed in the top-25, with Kuwait ranked 30th and Saudi Arabia at 32nd spot. Oman was ranked 52nd and Bahrain 59th among other Gulf countries in the top-100.

In 2024, UAE was ranked 22 and Kuwait at 13th.

Among South Asian countries, Pakistan was ranked at 109th ahead of India at 118th. Afghanistan brought up the rear at 147th.

The happiness rankings are based on a three-year average of individuals’ self-assessed evaluations of life satisfaction, as well as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

Country rankings were determined on the basis of answers people gave on being asked to rate their own lives.

Among Arab countries, Algeria ranked 84th in the World Happiness Report, followed by Iraq at 101, Palestine at 108, Morocco at 112, Tunisia at 113, Jordan at 128, Egypt at 135, Yemen at 140, and Lebanon at 145.

The study was published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, and compiled in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

“Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth — it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back,” said Jon Clifton, the CEO of Gallup, as reported by TIME.

“If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other.”

This year, the authors of the happiness report said new evidence indicates that engaging in acts of generosity and believing in the kindness of others are “significant predictors of happiness, even more so than earning a higher salary”.

Finland’s unbroken streak as the world’s happiest country continued for an eighth year, while the US fell to 24th place, its lowest-ever level in the global ranking. Locals in Finland and experts thanked its grand lakes and strong welfare system for boosting its mood. On the other hand, according to the new report, the number of people dining alone in the US has increased 53% over the last two decades.

The UK was placed 23rd and Germany 22nd just below the UAE.

Nordic countries all stayed among the 10 happiest, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden trailing Finland, which slightly extended its lead over runner-up Denmark.