World Happiness Report 2025 Analysis
Analysis of the World Happiness Report 2025
Abery L. Thomas III
Aquinas College
MG 510
Jason Good
03/23/2025
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World Happiness Report 2025 Analysis
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This report is a joint effort of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford
and Gallup, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and other centres of
research. The report provides a measure of subjective well being based on three key indicators –
estimates of life evaluations, presence of positive emotions and negative emotions (Helliwell et
al., 2025). The new 2025 edition highlights several components of social connection,
mealtime/civic participation etc and their correlations of wellbeing (Helliwell et al., 2025).
1. Developing ResearchObjectives
a. The overwhelming majority focuses on measuring happiness worldwide and what
is behind well-being, covering economics, social capital, and trust in institutions
(Helliwell et al., 2025).
2. Research Design
a. This analysis is based on a longitudinal survey design, using mostly data from the
Gallup World Poll conducted in over 140 nation-states. To improve the analysis,
other economic and demographic variables are included in the survey process
(Helliwell et al., 2025).
3. Sampling Methodology
a. In the survey, a representative sample of at least 1000 respondents (in each of the
targeted featured countries), with valid data, per year is used. Demographic
weighting adjustments are made to make the sample nationally represented
(Helliwell et al., 2019).
4. Data Collection
a. The data is derived from the Gallup World Poll, which includes questions about
life-satisfaction (on the Cantril Ladder life-satisfaction scale from 0-10) and
emotional experience data such as subjective experiences of happiness, sadness,
or stress (Helliwell et al., 2025).
5. Data Analysis
a. The report utilizes statistical modeling — including Ordinary Least Squares
(OLS) regression analyses — to get estimates of the relative effects of factors
such as GDP per capita, social support, freedom to make choices and perceptions
of corruption on happiness. The results are robust to Ordered-Probit Models
(Helliwell et al., 2025) that found further validation for the findings.
6. Findings and Interpretation
a. The report ends up ranking countries by average level of life satisfaction, and
describes main economic and social determinants of well-being. Results in 2025
confirm that Nordic countries return as top happiest countries, and that social trust
is a fundamental basis for more happiness of individuals (Helliwell et al., 2025).
7. Conclusion and Recommendations
a. The findings emphasized that strides to mend social ties, generosity, and
government transparency could help boost happiness worldwide. Policy responses
span from improving mental health, economic security and community
connectedness, to enhancing well-being across the globe (Helliwell et al, 2025).
World Happiness Report 2025 Analysis
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References
Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., Neve, J.-E. D., Aknin, L. B., & Wang, S. (2025, March
20). World happiness report 2025. The World Happiness Report.
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2025/
Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., De Neve, J.-E., Aknin, L. B., & Wang, S. (Eds.). (2019).
World Happiness Report 2019. Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
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