For the sixth time in a row, Finland took the position today the happiest country in the world according to the annual index compiled under the auspices of the UN, which revealed that kindness is on the rise in Ukraine but falling in Russia.

The World Happiness Report is a measure of happiness published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network every year since 2012.

In Ukraine, despite “widespread suffering and devastation” after the Russian invasion in 2022, there is “a stronger sense of common purpose, kindness and trust in the Ukrainian leadership,” than after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, said Professor Jean-Emmanuel De Neve, one of the authors of the study.

In 2022, “benevolence increased significantly in Ukraine but declined in Russia,” according to him, referring to actions such as helping a stranger or making a donation.

While Ukraine’s ranking rose from 98 to 92 compared to last year’s report — which was completed before the Russian invasion — its overall score went from 5,084 to 5,071, on a scale of zero to 10.

While the same countries generally top the rankings year after year, the report’s authors point to the Baltic countries as making rapid progress towards western European levels.

The only new country among the 20 happiest is Lithuania rose to 20th place –leaving her France at 21the– while her ranking Estonia fell from 66th in 2017 to the 31st in 2023. Greece remained in 58th place.

Despite the Ukraine and Covid crises, “various forms of everyday kindness, such as helping a stranger, donating to a humanitarian organization and volunteering, are above pre-pandemic levels” internationally for the second consecutive year, the Professor Lara Aknin, one of the editors of the report.

Afghanistan, scarred by decades of war and ranked last in the annual index since 2020, has seen its humanitarian crisis worsen after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led troops.

The global happiness report, first released in 2012, is based on how citizens themselves rate their happiness as well as economic and social data. The report considers six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and lack of corruption. It gives a satisfaction score based on an average of data over a three-year period.

This year, northern Europe once again dominated the top spots – with Denmark in second place after Finland, followed by Iceland. Fourth place is occupied by Israel, which rose five places compared to last year.