Global Happiness Report 2022

 Visual Capitalist has been mapping the World Happiness Report for the past few years.

The World Happiness Report is "powered by Gallup World Poll data". It is based on a combination of economic factors (such as GDP), social factors such as freedom, social support, and perceptions of corruption as well as life expectancy. In the last few years it also also included the effects of COVID-19.

Finland has consistently led the world for the last few years. Other northern European countries are also high up on the list. Ukraine is unsurprisingly the least happy country in Europe but still happier than most of Africa.

Surprisingly, the United States is doing well, despite the horror show that's portrayed in campaign commercials. Unsurprisingly, Afghanistan is lowest. Bhutan, where happiness is part of government policy, does not appear to have participated. The overall rates of happiness have increased slightly over the last few years. Here is the 2019 map for comparison.

Unfortunately, they changed the color scheme a bit this year making the comparison a little tougher.The bright pinks and purples while more distinct are a little hard on the eyes and make me a little less happy. Anyway I created a comparison animation for your enjoyment.