Finland’s Happiness: A Mix of Scandinavian Culture, National Institutions, and Saunas

Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for the seventh consecutive year by the World Happiness Report, initiated in 2012 by the United Nations (UN) to promote sustainable development goals. This survey asked participants to rate their lives on a scale of one to ten, with Finland scoring highest at 7.7 and Afghanistan at the bottom with a score of 1.7.

Scandinavian countries consistently dominate the top rankings, while countries like America and Germany have fallen out of the top 20. Factors contributing to Finland’s happiness include gender equality, trust in national institutions and citizens, and low levels of corruption.

Finland was the first country to grant women the right to vote and run in parliamentary elections in 1906. Additionally, free education, universal healthcare, and family-friendly policies also contribute to Finland’s overall well-being. The Finnish capital, Helsinki, was found to be the most honest city in a study where wallets were intentionally “lost” to test citizens’ honesty. Transparency International ranks Finland as the second-least corrupt country in the world after Denmark.

One key factor that contributes to Finland’s happiness is its abundance of saunas. With over 3.5 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million, saunas are a fundamental part of Finnish culture. The Finnish embassy in Berlin recently hosted an exhibition celebrating sauna culture which was a popular and fully booked event