Lowest-ever US happiness ranking blamed on Biden-era loneliness and suicide
The United States has fallen to its lowest ever happiness ranking, with loneliness during Joe Biden's presidency and a rise in suicide and substance abuse blamed for the slump.
America fell to 24th place in the World Happiness Report, its lowest score since the survey was first published in 2012.
The report said: 'The increasing number of people who eat alone is one reason for declining well-being in the United States.'
In 2023, roughly one in four Americans reported eating all their meals alone the previous day.
The authors of the report said the number of people dining alone in the US had increased by 53 per cent in the last two decades and noted that sharing meals 'is strongly linked with well-being'.
The report also stated that the United States was one of only a few countries to see a rise of so-called 'deaths of despair' – from suicide or substance abuse – at a time when those deaths are declining in the majority of countries.
The report surveyed people worldwide in 2022-2024, while Joe Biden was president.
The United Kingdom, at position 23, was given its lowest ranking in nine years.
Finland ranked as the world's happiest country for the eighth year in a row, with Finns and experts thanking its grand lakes and strong welfare system for boosting its mood.
Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, once again ranked as the unhappiest country in the world.
Nordic countries all stayed among the 10 happiest, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden trailing Finland, which slightly extended its lead over runner-up Denmark.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, at the sixth and 10th spots.
Despite the war with Hamas, Israel came in at eighth.
The happiness ranking is based on a three-year average of individuals' self-assessed evaluations of life satisfaction, as well as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.
Frank Martela, an assistant professor specialised in well-being and happiness research at Aalto University, told AFP: 'It seems that Finnish people are relatively satisfied with their lives.
'Democracy is functioning well, we have free elections, free speech, low levels of corruption and all of these have shown to predict higher levels of national well-being.'
He added that the Nordic countries also all have relatively strong welfare systems – with parental leave, unemployment benefits and mostly universal healthcare – which also contribute to higher levels of well-being on average.
Eveliina Ylitolonen, a 23-year-old student in Helsinki, said she believed that Finns' focus on enjoying beautiful nature could help explain the consistently high level of happiness in the Nordic country, which is known for its deep forests and over 160,000 lakes.
She told AFP: 'Nature is an important part of this happiness.'
This year, the authors of the happiness report said new evidence indicates that engaging in acts of generosity and believing in the kindness of others are 'significant predictors of happiness, even more so than earning a higher salary'.
They also noted that in general 'people are too pessimistic about the kindness of their communities', and that 'the return rate of lost wallets is much higher than people expect'.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
20 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Israel attacks Yemeni port city, Houthi rebels say
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel attacked docks in Yemen's port city of Hodeida on Tuesday, the Houthi rebels said, likely damaging facilities that are key to aid shipments to the hungry, war-wracked nation. Israel did not immediately acknowledge the attack and the Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. However, Tuesday's claimed attack comes as the Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones targeting Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The Houthis announced the attack via their al-Masirah satellite news channel. They said the attack targeted docks there, without elaborating. The Houthis have been launching persistent missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive in Gaza. From November 2023 until January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors . That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. Trump paused those attacks just before his trip to the Mideast, saying the rebels had 'capitulated' to American demands. Early Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on the social platform X that U.S. Navy ships had traveled through the Red Sea and its Bab el-Mandeb Strait 'multiple times in recent days' without facing Houthi attacks. 'These transits occurred without challenge and demonstrate the success of both Operation ROUGH RIDER and the President's Peace Through Strength agenda,' Hegseth wrote ahead of facing Congress for the first time since sharing sensitive military details of America's military campaign against the Houthis in a Signal chat. Meanwhile, a wider, decadelong war in Yemen between the Houthis and the country's exiled government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, remains in a stalemate. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Loaded weapon': editors decry Hungary bill targeting media
The Hungarian government's decision to delay a vote on a controversial bill which penalises "foreign-funded" media and NGOs does not mean that the danger to freedom of the press is over, top editors warn. The government is still committed to a "campaign to shut down, destroy or discredit certain media outlets, NGOs or people", Peter Uj, editor-in-chief of news site 444, told AFP. Critics say the bill, which they compare to Russia's foreign agent legislation, is the latest attempt by nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban to tighten his control over the central European country of 9.5 million people since his return to power in 2010. Tens of thousands have protested against the bill in Budapest, with another rally to take place on Tuesday. The European Commission has also called on Hungary to withdraw the draft, while representatives of more than 80 media outlets from 22 countries -- including Britain's The Guardian and France's Liberation -- have slammed it. The bill was introduced last month and a vote was scheduled for this week, but the ruling coalition last week put it off, saying that debate would continue in the autumn and that it wanted to review "substantive comments received" from "serious organisations" other than those protesting. - 'Devious' - The legislation would blacklist organisations that "threaten the sovereignty of Hungary by using foreign funding to influence public life". Any kind of support from non-Hungarian citizens, EU funds, or even advertising revenues from companies based abroad constitutes foreign funding, according to commonly accepted legal interpretations. Blacklisted groups would need permission to receive foreign funds. They would also be barred from receiving donations through a Hungarian income tax contribution scheme, an important source of revenue for non-profits. The legal changes could affect any independent Hungarian media outlets, with 444, internet TV Partizan and news site Telex explicitly targeted. Partizan editor-in-chief Marton Gulyas, 39, described the new bill as "devious". "The law would create economic tools to make it impossible for listed organisations to function," he told AFP. The online channel, which was founded in 2018 and has a staff of 70, was the top beneficiary last year of the income tax contribution scheme, receiving more than one million euros ($1.1 million) from over 35,000 supporters. Gulyas rejected the notion that Partizan is "foreign-funded", stressing that the channel had only applied for EU-based grants in the past two years. "Hungary has been a part of the European Union since 2004. There are no borders or customs, yet this money is now being treated as if there could be some kind of criminality involved," he said. - 'Will not back down' - Telex editor-in-chief Tamas Nemet, 44, said that advertising and reader support make up 92 percent of the outlet's revenue. "But the law would now make those unviable" through various legal hurdles and administrative burdens, according to Nemet. One of Hungary's most popular news sources with a staff of around 100, Telex was established in 2021, after Nemet and his colleagues resigned en masse from the country's then-top news site, over alleged political interference. "We can see quite clearly what those in power want, the weapon is loaded and on the table," he said, adding that the "truth cannot be banned". "We will not back down," he said, vowing to "overcome whatever they come up with to hinder our operations". Orban says the law is needed to fight the alleged spread of foreign interference and disinformation. Uj of 444, along with his colleagues from Telex and Partizan, described the bill as "absurd" and "a political weapon designed to keep independent media in constant fear and to take us out". He decried rules "worded in such a way they are impossible to comply with". The 53-year-old Uj and colleagues set up the news site in 2013. It employs about 35 journalists and has broken several stories, including a child abuse pardon scandal, which last year led to the resignation of then-president Katalin Novak, a key Orban ally. AFP partners with its sister site Lakmusz for fact-checking. ros/jza/gv/bc
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Naturalization ceremony at Clinton Presidential Library, 39 new citizens welcomed by former President Bill Clinton
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Thirty-nine individuals from 18 different countries and nationalities were officially sworn in as United States citizens Monday afternoon during a naturalization ceremony held at the Clinton Presidential Library. The event was made even more special by the presence of former President Bill Clinton, who addressed the new Americans with words of encouragement, gratitude and hope for their futures. The ceremony celebrated the journeys of men and women who, after navigating the immigration process and demonstrating knowledge of U.S. history, government and civic values, took their oaths of allegiance to become full participants in the American democratic system. Former President Bill Clinton welcomes new U.S. citizens at naturalization ceremony in Little Rock One of those new citizens, Selen Strickland, originally from Turkey, reflected on her six-year journey to citizenship. 'It's a very big accomplishment,' she said. 'I came to the U.S. six years ago to pursue my master's degree. After my studies, I decided to stay, moved to Little Rock five years ago, met my husband, and now we have a one-year-old daughter. I feel very proud—this is a big achievement and a major milestone in my life.' Former President Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, welcomed the group with heartfelt remarks, commending their resilience and the diversity they bring to the nation. 'Thank you for bringing your talents, perseverance, and your dreams to the United States,' Clinton said. 'There is nothing more important than what people decide to do with their lives, their minds and their hearts every new day.' Clinton urged the newly naturalized citizens to embrace education, civic participation and the responsibilities of their new status. 'You now hold the cards to forge a new future for yourselves and your families,' he said. 'As a country, we welcome the heritage you bring. Together, we continue to form a more perfect union.' Many attendees had the chance to meet and shake hands with the former president, who emphasized that being American is not about background but about shared values and commitment to the community. 'Whatever your nationality, as long as you follow the law, show up, work hard, pay your taxes and do all the things that are burdens of citizenship—we're glad you're here,' Clinton concluded. Immigrants from 22 countries become U.S. citizens in Little Rock As the event came to a close, emotions ran high among the new citizens who now call the United States their home. For many, including Strickland, the moment marked the culmination of years of perseverance and the start of a new chapter in the American story. 'After all the sacrifices and everything, I think this is the reward that I'm getting today, becoming an American citizen,' she said through tears. The ceremony served not only as a celebration of individual achievement but also as a powerful reminder of the enduring promise of the American dream. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
