Each year the “World Happiness Report” is released.
So how do the World Happiness Report folks determine happiness?
They poll 100,000 people in 140 countries and territories and get their results from that.
You can read their explanation here. For more information click here.
In the 2026 rankings, Mexico was ranked at #12, the 12th happiest country in the world. Last year it was #10, so it dropped by two.
Here are the Top Twelve countries of 2026:
1. Finland (just like last year)
2. Iceland
3. Denmark
4. Costa Rica
5. Sweden
6. Norway
7. Netherlands
8. Israel
9. Luxembourg
10. Switzerland
11. New Zealand
12. Mexico
Here are the bottom five countries of 2026:
143. Botswana
144. Zimbabwe
145. Malawi
146. Sierra Leone (same as last year)
147. Afghanistan (same as last year)
The United States was ranked 23rd, a step up from last year when it was 24th.
Costa Rica was the highest Spanish-speaking country at #4 and Mexico was the second-highest Spanish-speaking country at #12. Uruguay was #31, El Salvador was #37, Panama was #39, Spain was #41, Guatemala #42, Argentina #44, Chile #50, Nicaragua #51, Paraguay #57, Ecuador #59, Honduras #63, Dominican Republic #64, Colombia #68, Peru #72, Bolivia #78, Venezuela #80. Cuba was not on the list.
In the Anglosphere, New Zealand was the happiest at #11, Ireland #13, Australia #15,
the U.S. #23, Canada #25, the United Kingdom #29.
The happiest Middle Eastern country was Israel at #8, followed by
the United Arab Emirates at #21, Saudi Arabia at #22, Kuwait at #40.
China was #65, India was #116. Russia was #79 and Ukraine was #111.
You can check out the list yourself by clicking here.
For my article from a year ago about the 2025 list, click here.