2024 World Happiness Report: Canada is 2nd Happiest G7 Country

A 2024 World Happiness Report (WHR) reveals that Canada ranks behind only countries within the European Union (E.U.) regarding overall happiness among all studied age groups. Also, Canada is the 2nd happiest G7 Country according to WHR.

The WHP, or the World Happiness Report, is a yearly report created in collaboration between several organizations. These include Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford (U.K.), the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Editorial Board of World Happiness Report.

The 2024 WHR report evaluates people’s happiness in over 140 nations based on a three-year average of life evaluations. It assesses happiness across several life stages and generations and outlines an overall happiness ranking for each country.

According to the WHR, the life evaluations depend on the responses to the Gallup World Poll. The polls require individuals to assess their present life as a whole using a ladder image. Point 10 is specified for their best possible life, while zero (0) is for the worst possible life.

In particular, apart from its overall rankings, the report categorizes each country’s population into the following four groups.

The Young: Individuals under 30 years old
Lower Middle: Individuals between 30 – 44 years old
Upper Middle: Individuals between 45 – 59 years old
The Old: Individuals of 60 years old and above

Canada is the 2nd Happiest G7 Country: What is G7?

According to Global Affairs Canada, G7, or the Group of Seven, is a group of seven advanced economies of the World. G7 includes Canada, the U.K., the United States (U.S.), the EU, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Overall rankings of G7 countries

Regarding overall happiness across all age groups, Canada is the 2nd Happiest G7 Country in the 2024 WHR.

Canada ranks only behind some E.U. countries, including the following. The position of the country is ranked next to each.

The E.U. Countries:

Finland (1),
Denmark (2),
Sweden (4),
Netherlands (6),
Luxembourg (8) and
Austria (14).
Canada (15).

In terms of all-around happiness, Canada ranked higher than all other G7 nations.

The other E.U. Countries in overall happiness:

The U.K. (20)
The U.S. (23)
Germany (24)
France (27)
Italy (41)
Japan (51)

Rankings of Canada by age group in G7 countries

The following is Canada’s ranking among the G7 nations in each of the age groups or generations:

The Young: Under 30 years old

Canada attained the 5th position out of 7 in this age group, ahead of the U.S. and Japan.

Lower Middle: 30 to 44 years old

Canada attained the 4th position out of 7 in this age group, ahead of Italy, the U.S. and Japan.

Upper Middle: 45 to 59 years old

Canada attained the 2nd position out of 7, behind only some E.U. countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Luxembourg).

The Old: 60 years old and above

Canada placed 2nd out of 7 countries in this age group. In this category, Canada ranked behind only some countries in the E.U. (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands).

How does Canada’s 2024 WHR ranking relate to its 2023 U.S. News ranking?

Canada’s second place among the happiest countries in the G7, as per the 2024 GHR, corresponds with its place as the second-best country worldwide, as per the 2023 U.S. News’ Best Countries rankings. This is despite different publications employing different systems and factors to rank countries.

According to the 2023 U.S. News ranking, Canada only ranked behind Switzerland in the overall standings. Also, Canada secured a place among the top seven countries out of 87 countries by U.S. News for almost half of its ten subcategories. In particular, the following is Canada’s position in different aspects:

2nd for Agility

Note: According to the U.S. News, Agility is a country’s ability to adapt and respond to obstructions, and such countries are considered the most adaptable to change.

2nd for starting a career
2nd for racial equality
3rd for Quality of Life
4th for Social Purpose

Note: According to the U.S. News, social purpose is the capability of a country’s citizens to unite around specific issues they feel strongly about. These countries are considered socially conscious, inclusive, and the most progressive.