Finland Crowned World’s Happiest Country for Seventh Straight Year

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

For the seventh consecutive year, Finland has been declared the happiest country in the world, according to the United Nations World Happiness Report, maintaining its lead since 2018.

The Finnish people hold their recognition in high regard, attributing their distinctive happiness to four fundamental pillars: a strong bond with nature, a grounded lifestyle, consumption of fresh, locally-sourced food, and a commitment to sustainability.

In Finland, happiness is viewed not as a closely guarded secret but as a set of practical life skills. Whether it’s enjoying a forest walk, taking a post-sauna swim in the sea, or savoring a meal prepared with locally-gathered ingredients, these simple pleasures form the essence of Finnish joy.

Exploring Finnish Joy

In the previous year, Finland offered insights into their joy through the inaugural Happiness Masterclass held amidst the pristine Lakeland. This year, Visit Finland collaborates with Helsinki Partners to unveil urban happiness secrets. The Helsinki Happiness Hackers, a group of five distinctive locals, will demonstrate how to achieve a fulfilling and serene urban life.

These Helsinki Happiness Hackers, each with their unique background, will share their happiness methodologies for city living:

• Lena Salmi, a 70-year-old who is both a skateboard aficionado and an avid swimmer, will introduce innovative concepts of urban swimming.
• Luka Balac, a chef and restaurateur known for his commitment to sustainability, will discuss his approach to community-oriented gastronomy.
• Adela Pajunen, a wellness authority and biologist, will share Finnish health recommendations, which might be as simple as a nature walk.
• Tero Kuitunen, a designer, will take participants on a bicycle tour to explore the blend of urban life and nature in Helsinki, showcasing its influence on local design and lifestyle.
• DJ Orkidea, Tapio Hakanen, celebrated for his contributions to Finnish electronic music, will perform at a unique sauna rave.

The Helsinki Happiness Hacks event invites participants to join an urban adventure at no cost. Visit Finland and Helsinki Partners will take care of the travel expenses for selected attendees. These individuals will partake in a specially designed five-day journey from June 9th to June 14th, 2024, led by the Helsinki Happiness Hackers, aimed at discovering their inner Helsinkian.

“There is an old Finnish proverb that states ‘the one who has happiness, should hide it’. As the world’s happiest country since 2018, we have decided to take the old phrase and update it, making our modern motto: ‘the one who has happiness, should share it.’ We are excited to invite people from around the world to learn about our Finnish keys and hacks to happiness,” comments Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Business Finland. “In 2023, we invited global happiness seekers to the world’s first Happiness Masterclass and this year we are thrilled to share an authentic slice of Finnish urban happiness in Helsinki from our own Helsinki Happiness Hackers.”

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