In terms of total happiness across all age categories tested, Canada only lags behind nations in the European Union (EU), according to the 2024 World Happiness Report (WHR).
The World Happiness Report is a yearly publication that is created in collaboration with Gallup, the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network of the United Nations (UN), and the WHR Editorial Board.
The 2024 edition of this report evaluates the happiness of individuals in over 140 nations “during different life stages and of those in different generations” by using “a three-year average” of what the WHR refers to as “life evaluations.” In addition, each nation includes a ranking of overall happiness for people of all ages.
The Gallup World Poll, which “asks respondents to evaluate their current life as a whole using the image of a ladder, with the best possible life for them as a 10 and [the] worst possible as a 0,” is the source of information used by the WHR to determine life evaluations.
In particular, the report categorizes each nation’s population into four groups in addition to its overall rankings:
- The Young: Individuals under 30
- Lower Middle Age Range: 30-44
- Upper Middle Age Range: 45–59
- Older: 60 years of age and older
In the G7, where does Canada stand?
- UK: 20th in overall happiness
- US: 23th in overall happiness
- Germany: 24th in overall happiness
- France: 27th in overall happiness
- Italy: 41st in overall happiness
- Japan: 51st in overall happiness
Rankings by age group
Among the G7, here is where Canada ranked in each of the age groups/generations noted above:
The Young: Under 30 years old
In this age group, Canada ranked 5th of 7, ahead of only the US and Japan.
Lower Middle: 30 to 44 years old
In this age group, Canada ranked 4th of 7, ahead of Italy, the US and Japan.
Upper Middle: 45 to 59 years old
In this age group, Canada ranked 2nd of 7, behind only some countries in the EU (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Luxembourg).
The Old: 60 years old and above
In this age group, Canada again ranked 2nd of 7. Once again, Canada trailed only some countries in the EU (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Netherlands) in this category.
How Canada’s WHR 2024 ranking compares with its 2023 U.S. News ranking
Although different publications use different methodologies and factors to rank countries, Canada’s place among the happiest countries in the G7 according to the WHR 2024 coincides with its ranking as the 2nd best country in the world overall according to the U.S. News’ Best Countries ranking for 2023.
Last year’s U.S. News ranking placed Canada behind only Switzerland in the overall standings. Additionally, U.S. News ranked Canada in the top seven countries (of 87 total) for nearly half of its 10 subcategories. Specifically, Canada ranked:
- 2nd for Agility*
- 2nd for starting a career
- 2nd for racial equality
- 3rd for Quality of Life
- 4th for Social Purpose**
- 4th for education
- 6th for women
- 6th for pursuing a comfortable retirement
- 6th in terms of most transparent countries
- 7th for studying abroad
- 7th for raising kids
*U.S. News says that agility is about a country’s ability to adapt and respond to obstacles, adding that “these countries are seen as the most adaptable to change.”
**U.S. News describes social purpose as “the ability of a country’s citizens to rally around certain causes they feel strongly about. These countries are seen as being the most progressive, inclusive and committed to social justice.”
