Czech Republic cracks world’s top 20 happiest countries

For the very first time, the Czech Republic has cracked the top 20 in the annual World Happiness Report, an annual assessment of the happiest nations across the globe released by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The ranking continues an upward trend for the Czech Republic after coming in at number 23 in the 2017 Happiness Report.

The United States barely edges the Czech Republic in the 2019 Report, coming in at number 19. The U.S. has continued a downward trend, slipping from a ranking of 18 last year and 14 in back in 2017.

As is the norm in these kinds of things, Scandinavian countries dominate the top of the 2019 World Happiness Report, with Finland topping the list for the second straight year.

Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Netherlands round out the top 5.

Finland’s education system, health care, career fulfillment and work-life balance were credited with the country’s high rating.

“It’s not that Finns are necessarily looking to become immensely rich. I think Finland just does a pretty good job of helping people achieve this lovely, ordinary life.”

Despite Brexit concerns, the United Kingdom maintains a ranking of 15, with Ireland coming in at 16.

Czech neighbor Austria cracks the top 10, while Germany comes in at 17, Slovakia at 38, and Poland at 40.

These are the world’s top 25 happiest countries, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report: