France has recorded its worst-ever position in the annual UN World Happiness Report, placing 33rd behind Saudi Arabia and just ahead of Singapore. This marks a significant decline for the country, which previously achieved its highest position at 20th place.
The report, published on Thursday to coincide with World Happiness Day, reveals that France has fallen lower than ever in the global happiness rankings despite its reputation for quality of life.
"The report analyses population behaviour worldwide between 2022 and 2024," the UN said in its publication, examining data collected before recent political changes in major economies.
Finland continues to hold the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, while the United States dropped to 24th place – its lowest position since the report began in 2012, down from its peak ranking of 11th.
Behind the numbers
The ranking is based on the Cantril ladder method, where respondents evaluate their lives on a scale from zero to 10, with 10 representing the best possible life and zero the worst.
The assessment considers multiple factors including GDP per capita, freedom, generosity and healthy life expectancy. Each year, around 100,000 people respond to the survey, representing approximately 1,000 individuals per country.
A separate study by polling firm Ipsos, conducted in partnership with engineering school CESI, painted a different picture of happiness in France. According to the "Ipsos Happiness Index 2025," France ranks among the happiest countries in the G7.
"The feeling of happiness is particularly high in France," Ipsos found.
That study, carried out between 20 December 2024 and 3 January 2025 with nearly 24,000 participants, found that 73 percent of French residents reported feeling happy, a slight increase from the previous year but a significant drop since 2014.
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Family matters most
Family remains central to French happiness, with nearly half (47 percent) of respondents "citing their children and loved ones as their main source of joy," Ipsos said.
Friendships also contribute significantly to well-being for approximately one-third of French people (29 percent), while feeling loved matters to 27 percent.
"The home is a refuge for 26 percent of French people, offering comfort and security," Ipsos noted in its findings.
Despite positive social connections, financial difficulties represent the primary source of unhappiness for almost half (48 percent) of French respondents.
Nearly one-third (29 percent) "feel a lack of meaning or direction in their lives" affecting their well-being, while 26 percent "are concerned about political instability and social tensions, which negatively influence their morale," the report stated.
Mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, affect one in four French people (25 percent), with a similar proportion suffering from physical health problems.
Generational differences
The Ipsos study highlights significant generational disparities, with baby boomers (born 1946-1964) emerging as the happiest demographic globally, with more than 75 percent reporting happiness.
In contrast, Generation X (born 1965-1979) appears to be the least content, though a majority (68 percent) still describe themselves as happy.
While the research confirms that higher income correlates with greater happiness – 75 percent for high earners versus 62 percent for those with modest incomes – family bonds and affection remain the essential foundation of happiness beyond financial considerations.
