The Netherlands ranks #6 in the 2024 World Happiness Report

A look at the top 10

According to the most recent World Happiness Report for 2024, the Netherlands claimed the sixth position among the world’s happiest countries. The top 10 rankings have shown consistency, with Finland retaining its leading position as the "Happiest Country in the World'' for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Denmark and then Iceland.

This annual report assesses the happiness and well-being of citizens in 143 countries worldwide. Data from Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network is used to compile the rankings. Factors considered include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom in making life choices, generosity within communities, and perceptions of corruption in government.

Despite a slight dip to sixth place in this year’s ranking, the Netherlands maintained its reputation for quality of life and work-life balance, affirming its position among the top 10 countries for social and economic welfare. Finland retained its top position, attributed to its strong sense of community, while Sweden, previously ranked sixth, climbed to fourth place. 

Here are the top 10 happiest countries for 2024, according to the report:

1. Finland

2. Denmark

3. Iceland

4. Sweden

5. Israel

6. The Netherlands

7. Norway

8. Luxembourg

9. Switzerland

10. Australia

Netherlands residents experience happiness relatively equally

This year's theme for World Happiness Report delves into happiness levels across different life stages, as happiness research presents a nuanced perspective, one that evolves over time. Rankings vary notably across age groups. In the Netherlands, there's a trend where older adults tend to report higher levels of happiness compared to younger generations. Dutch individuals aged 60 and above rank as the 7th happiest globally, while those under 30 come in at 9th place. 

In addition, the happiness disparity between different age groups in the Netherlands is minimal compared to other countries. Overall, residents of the Netherlands tend to experience happiness more evenly across age demographics.

See Amsterdam’s performance in the most recent international rankings