We Brits are a miserable bunch. Not helped by an incessant flow of negative headlines and social media outrage. Our smartphones, even our watches, are full of it. Miserable. Now, let me get back to that argument I’m trying to win on X (Twitter) …
But wait, the UN’s World Happiness Report 2025, published this week on its International Day of Happiness, begs to differ. Maybe things aren’t quite as grim as they seem.
Kindness is on the rise globally
Evidence shows folks worldwide are twice as likely as they expect to have their wallet returned by a stranger if they drop it on the street. That’s based on findings from a wallet-dropping experiment carried out across 40 countries. Real-life evidence of kindness, which is linked to happiness.
In 2024 instances of helping strangers were 18% higher on average across all nations of the world than in 2017 to 2019. Carrying out benevolent acts and expectations of kindness from others correlate directly to happiness, the report says.
Finland is happiest – but UK has work to do
For the eighth year running Finland tops the world happiness rankings with an average score of 7.736 out of 10 from people asked to evaluate their lives. Followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden, where expectations you’ll get your dropped wallet back are highest – a key predictor of general happiness.
The UK is 23rd on the happiness leader board, reporting its lowest average life evaluation since 2017. One place behind Germany and one better than the US, which falls to its lowest-ever position. Meanwhile Coast Rica (sixth) and Mexico (10th), both less wealthy nations in socio-economic terms, climb into the top 10 for the first time.
So, what’s driving these changes in people’s perceived quality of life, kindness and happiness?
What an expert says
Lara B. Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, and an editor of the report, says: “Human happiness is driven by our relationships with others. Investing in positive social connections and engaging in benevolent actions are both matched by greater happiness.”
In other words, doing kind things makes us happier. And it seems Nordic countries are good at this stuff. So, what should we Brits do with this information?
Put your phone down and go for a walk
Simple. Stop doom-scrolling and take a walk. You just might find someone’s dropped wallet. Or a fellow soul who needs a little help: a coffee, directions or even just a few moments of friendly conversation.
And while we’re out and about, look around. We might also notice some things. Like the volunteers in Shropshire who saved an 81-year-old John Preece’s life when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Or off-duty fire fighter Danielle Hood, who saved a choking baby. Or a spring-time butterfly photographed by local conservationists.
Good people doing good stuff. All reasons to smile.
