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World Happiness Report

Daily life in Tel Aviv during the Israel-US war with Iran. March 18, 2026. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
March 19, 2026, 6:02 am
Despite war, Israel ranks 8th in global happiness survey, same as last year
Findings reflect overall satisfaction with society and life, says Bar-Ilan University researcher Anat Fanti, but concurrent rise in distress levels also show psychological cost of conflict
By Diana Bletter
People in costumes party in the Nahlaot neighborhood of Jerusalem, during the Jewish holiday of Purim, on March 16, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
March 20, 2025, 1:47 pm
Israel ranks as 8th-happiest nation in global survey, down from 5th last year; US is 24th
Despite ongoing war and political turmoil, Israeli young adults rank highest in self-reported quality of social connections; in the ‘freedom’ section, Israel only placed 87th
By AP and ToI Staff
People celebrate Israel's 76th Independence Day at Saker Park in Jerusalem, May 14, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 17, 2024, 9:09 am
What Matters Now to Haviv Rettig Gur: Reasons for optimism in Israel’s 77th year
After somber Memorial and Independence Days, ToI’s senior analyst takes a look ahead and discusses why Israel is ranked 5th in the Happiness Index – and is likely to remain so
By ToI Staff
A woman prays at a vigil for the victims and hostages from the bloody Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas terrorists, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP/Oded Balilty)
March 20, 2024, 4:00 am
Israel drops one place to 5th in global happiness list; Finland retains top spot
UN-sponsored index, based on data from 2021-2023, predates Oct.7 attack, Gaza war; highest positions dominated by Nordic countries, with US falling to 23rd, Britain 20th
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Israelis enjoy the beach in Tel Aviv on a hot winter day, January 21, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
March 20, 2023, 1:27 pm
Israel soars to 4th place in global happiness list, highest since ranking started
UN-sponsored index, based on data from 2020-2022, predates government’s divisive judicial overhaul plan; list is again topped by Finland, with US 15th, Britain 19th and France 21st
By ToI Staff
Meylakh Sheykhet, lay leader of the Turei Zehav community, Lviv, Ukraine, March 16, 2022. (Carrie Keller-Lynn/The Times of Israel)
March 20, 2022, 1:58 pm
Daily Briefing Mar 20: Purim in besieged Lviv; unbearable lightness of being Israeli
Carrie Keller-Lynn reports from Lviv under fire; David Horovitz spells out to Israeli leadership why being a good Jew is the same as being a good person
By ToI Staff
Israelis enjoy the Independence Day flyover at Jerusalem's Sacher Park on April 15, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
March 18, 2022, 3:57 pm
Israel jumps to 9th in World Happiness index, its highest-ever ranking
Finland again tops the UN-sponsored list, with the US in 16th, Britain 17th, France 20th; research was completed before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
By AFP and ToI Staff
Israelis watch a fireworks show during Independence Day celebrations in Tel Aviv on April 14, 2021, after more than a year of coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
April 15, 2021, 11:23 am
Israel at 73 by the numbers: 12th-happiest in world, over 10% work in high-tech
Figures show those with average salaries must save up for 11.5 years to afford an apartment; economic recovery from COVID is sped up by vaccination drive
By ToI Staff
Medical staff and patients wear masks and wave Israeli flags as an Israeli Air Force aerobatic team flies in formation over the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, in the northern city of Hadera, April 29, 2020. (Ariel Schalit/AP)
March 20, 2021, 7:17 pm
Israel climbs to 12th spot in pandemic-focused World Happiness Report
Finland tops UN’s annual survey for fourth successive year; Canada is 14th, the UK 17th, and the US 19th
By ToI Staff and AP
People celebrate Israel's 71st Independence Day in Netanya on May 8, 2019. (Flash90)
March 20, 2020, 2:31 pm
Israel slips a spot but still a high 14th in World Happiness survey
Finland (again) tops UN’s annual World Happiness Report; ; US, UK rise; Tel Aviv is world 8th happiest city; data prepared before coronavirus crisis
By AP and ToI Staff
People celebrate Israel's 70th Independence Day celebrations in Saker Park in Jerusalem, April 19, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 20, 2019, 2:59 pm
Israelis still very happy, but slip two spots to 13th in world ranking
Finland tops World Happiness Report again as cheerier Austria and Costa Rica push Jewish state down from 11th place last year; UK is 15th; US is 19th
By AP and ToI Staff
People watch the annual Air Force flyover on Israel's 69th Independence Day in Jerusalem on May 2, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 14, 2018, 6:14 pm
Israel is 11th happiest nation in the world; US slides to 18th
Jewish state maintains its high ranking on list of 156 countries for fifth successive year, but gets less praise for attitude to migrants; Finland tops list, PA is at 104
By ToI Staff and AP
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