Ten Attitudes that Make Finland the Happiest Country

According to the World Happiness Report for 2024, Finland has again secured the number-one spot as the Happiest Country in the World. You can download the report and digest the data for yourself. However, I have opinions on why Finland is the happiest country. The report mentions that it is attributed to various factors and attitudes, reflecting a comprehensive approach to well-being, societal support, and individual lifestyle choices.

Having lived around many Finnish people over the years and being 21% Finnish according to my DNA testing, I can attest to this group’s resilience, reliability, and persistence, so I decided to make up my mind.

Here are some fundamental attitudes and practices that I believe contribute to Finland’s happiness:

1. Work-Life Balance: The Finnish culture highly values balancing professional and personal life. They provide many models for flexible working hours and ample vacation time and how they are encouraged, fostering a healthier, more content workforce​​. Many other countries share this trait and do rank about the US, particularly in this category.
2. Exposure to Nature: Many of my Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish friends and family settled in Minnesota, so it should be no surprise with their abundant forests, lakes, and open spaces, Finns cherish…