Uncovering America’s Sunshine State: Which Region Takes the Crown as the Happiest in the US
- The World Happiness Report evaluates various areas that can affect a happy life, such as financial stability, crime rate, and quality medical services.
- The top rankings were held by Nordic countries such as Finland (1st), Denmark (2nd), and Iceland (3rd), while Korea ranked 52nd.
- The happiest state was Hawaii (66.3 points), followed by Maryland (62.6 points) and Virginia (57.8 points) in 11th place.
What is the Happiest State in America?
Ranking the States: 1st Hawaii, 2nd Maryland
The World Happiness Report evaluates various areas that can affect a happy life, such as financial stability, crime rate, and quality medical services. According to a 2024 report jointly released by Gallup, Oxford University’s Institute for Wellbeing, and the United Nations, the United States fell eight places from the previous year to 23rd place. This is the first time the United States has fallen out of the top 20.
The top rankings were held by Nordic countries such as Finland (1st), Denmark (2nd), and Iceland (3rd), while Korea ranked 52nd. In the United States, the World Population Review combines 31 indicators, including working hours, job security, and mental illness, to announce the happiness index and rankings by state.
The happiest state was Hawaii (66.3 points), followed by Maryland (62.6 points) and Virginia (57.8 points) in 11th place. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that Hawaii had the lowest rate of adult depression (12.7%), while Maryland had the highest median income ($94,991) in the country.
On the other hand, West Virginia (33.8 points) had the lowest happiness index, scoring lowest in both physical and emotional well-being, and also receiving poor evaluations for community and work environment. In addition, more than a quarter of residents (27.5%) were diagnosed with depression.