Published on Thursday, March 20, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica is the happiest country in the Americas and ranks sixth globally, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report.

The annual study, compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup, evaluates more than 130 countries based on self-reported life satisfaction, averaged from 2022 to 2024.

Countries receive a score from 1 to 10 based on residents' perceptions of their overall well-being. The rankings factor in both positive and negative emotions, as well as indicators such as economic stability, social support, income, health, freedom, and the absence of corruption.

Costa Rica achieved a three-year average life evaluation score of 7.0, placing it ahead of Mexico (6.9), Canada (6.8), and the United States (6.7) among nations in the Americas.

On the global scale, the "Pura Vida" country ranks sixth, just behind Finland (7.7), Denmark (7.5), Iceland (7.5), Sweden (7.3) and the Netherlands (7.3).

With a population of 5 million, Costa Rica not only maintains its top spot in the Americas but has also climbed six places globally compared to last year, when it ranked 12th.

At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan ranks 147th, according to the study.

Published annually on March 20 in celebration of the International Day of Happiness, the report analyzes 147 countries worldwide.

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