Finland could be the world’s happiest country for five years running ⁠— but the U.S. is gaining ground.

According to the 10th annual World Happiness ReportPublished Friday, by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. America is now ranked 16th in happiness, just below Canada, Ireland and Germany.

This is a three-spot increase from the 19th place U.S. last year. An array of happiness indicators shows that the U.S. ranks higher than countries such as France, Belgium, Czechia, Czechia, and Belgium.

Gallup World Poll data, 2019-2021, is used in the report to assess 146 countries using factors like gross domestic product per head, social support, life expectancy and freedom to choose. It also considers corruption perceptions.

Researchers find that Finland is not even close to winning this round: Finland is scoring “significantly better” than any other nation. In that order, the top five include Denmark, Iceland Switzerland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

According to the report, there is an average long-term upward trend in worry, stress and sadness and a slightly lower quality of life. Average life assessments, which account for the difference in negative and positive influence, were “remarkably resilient” during Covid-19.

John Helliwell (a University of British Columbia professor who assisted in the editing of the report) noted that there was a “remarkable worldwide growthThe Gallup World Survey measures kindness in three areas: volunteering, helping others and giving back. These three acts of kindness increased globally by 25 percent in 2021 when compared to the pre-pandemic period.

The report’s data was collected before Russia attacked Ukraine. According to the authors, the future of global happiness depends on how the Covid pandemic plays out and what the military conflicts are like.

The report states that the pandemic caused not only suffering and pain but also increased social support and benevolence. It is important that we remember our universal longing for happiness, and how individuals can rally together in times of need as we confront the devastation caused by war and diseases.

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