What makes the Nordic nations so happy?
Helsinki’s Cathedral in Finland, which has been crowned the happiest nation on the planet for the ninth year in a row - Alamy
Despite their reputation for being shy, sullen and shunning most forms of social interaction, it doesn’t take much to make a Finn smile. Part-time cafe owner and sometime musician Atte Lehtiniittu is a prime example.
Last summer, I visited his Käpylän Kiska cafe in a neighbourhood of Helsinki. Drinking from a chipped second-hand mug outside one of the city’s historic 1930s canopy kiosks, currently enjoying a new lease of life as part of a trend for pop-up restaurants, wine bars and yoghurterias, I listened to his story.
Weeks spent organising on-site music concerts and bingo competitions only earned him a few euros. But that didn’t matter.
“As long as I have enough money to pay rent and buy beer, I’m good,” he shrugged.
Musician Atte Lehtiniittu runs Käpylän Kiska cafe in a neighbourhood of Helsinki - Sarah J Marshall
An appreciation of simple pleasures coupled with a value system that puts people above profit partly explains why Finland is repeatedly crowned the happiest nation on the planet.
Published by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, Gallup, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the World Happiness Report 2026 was announced today.
The forest-swathed, nature-loving nation has earned the accolade for a ninth year in a row. The result is no great surprise, but interestingly all five of Europe’s Nordic nations occupy the global ranking’s top six spots. Surely, they must have something in common.
Access to space is the obvious answer. It’s no coincidence that these are some of the least densely populated countries on the continent. Iceland has an average of four people living per square kilometre, while trees in Finland outnumber residents by 4,500 to one.
At a political level, a generous social welfare system – nicknamed the “Nordic Model” – promises free healthcare, education and up to a year’s paid parental leave in Denmark. Yes, the taxes are high, but when the money is well spent, and levels of economic inequality are far lower than the global average, who can complain?
But it’s a shared respect for nature that really makes these countries such pleasant places to live. The right to roam is championed across Sweden, Norway and Finland, allowing freedom to explore and enjoy restorative nature spots.
Respect for nature is deeply engrained in Finnish culture - Joao Inacio
A willingness to embrace dramatically different seasons and extreme weather requires tenacity and resilience – summed up by the Finnish word “sisu”. Danes have found the solution in “hygge”, Swedes focus on “mysig” and the Norwegians champion “kos”. It all amounts to a focus on cosiness, contentment and calm.
Learning to live alongside your environment certainly creates peace of mind.
“We are forest people,” a professional Finnish forager once told me. “We work with the rhythm of nature. Rather than fight it, we celebrate what it has to offer us and make the most of our environment.”
Proof true happiness doesn’t really require much.
Five Nordic holidays to make you smile
Senja, Norway
Senja is Norway’s second-biggest island - Henryk Welle
If mountains really are a stairway to the heavens, some of the best signposts for paradise can be found in Norway. The scenic showstopper has more pointy peaks than a huddle of hedgehogs and many are easy to climb. A favourite is Segla on folkloric island Senja, where views sweep across soft clouds into deep blue Arctic waters. Even better, the area can be explored by public transport, using buses, boats and old-fashioned walking boots.
East Coast, Iceland
It may not enjoy the balmy temperatures of the Caribbean, but the land of fire and ice cultivates a similar “no-rush” island culture. The pace almost drops to a standstill in east coast town Djúpivogur, celebrated as a member of the Italian-founded Cittaslow movement. Find amusement in an installation of 34 giant bird’s eggs on concrete plinths, discover joy on a boat tour searching for puffins, and embrace the magic of nature by strolling along black sand beaches.
Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
The remote islands of the outer Stockholm archipelago - Anders Sellin
Swedes practise their own version of ying and yang in the form of “lagom”, the art of striking balance in life. Blend urban indulgences with immersion in nature by visiting the laid-back capital Stockholm and tagging on an island-hopping adventure through its archipelago, only an hour’s boat ride away. The country has more islands than any other nation in the world – over 267,000 in total – and these are some of the most relaxing to explore. A network of walking trails has been set up across 22 of the islands and some are so close, it’s possible to paddle across on a rowing boat.
Lake Saimaa, Finland
Savonlinna is a picturesque town located in the heart of Lake Saimaa - Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Masters of low-fi merriment, Finns have found the perfect formula for simple, restorative summer fun. Ranging from wooden cabins deep in the forest to flashier island escapes, more than 500,000 registered “mökki” (cottages) provide a seasonal escape. Get a taste for the lifestyle of saunas, swims and foraging sessions at the villa-style Kuru Resort on the banks of one of Europe’s largest bodies of water, Lake Saimaa. Take boat trips to find the endemic ringed seal on a sea safari in Linnansaari National Park and dine on fried fish at family-run museum-piece Tertti Manor.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Numerous surveys show that retirees represent one of the happiest segments within Danish society. But why? Visitors can find out first-hand by booking a seat at one of Copenhagen’s Silvers supper clubs. Held in the private homes of senior citizens with backgrounds in fields of art, design, architecture and music, themed meals for a handful of guests take place every Wednesday and Sunday (thesilvers.dk). Continue to celebrate different generations by regressing to childhood at 19th-century pleasure park Tivoli Gardens, where rides on rollercoasters never grow old.
EasyJet Holidays offer a three-night city break to Copenhagen staying at the Annex Copenhagen (room only) from £222pp, including flights from Manchester.
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