World Happiness Report
Methodology and Institutional Background
The World Happiness Report is an annual publication of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), released in partnership with Gallup (the analytics firm) and the United Nations. It has been published since 2012. The primary metric used is the Cantril Ladder Scale — respondents are asked to imagine a ladder with the best possible life at 10 and the worst at 0, and rate their own current life position. Country scores are based on three-year averages to reduce sampling error. The report also correlates happiness scores with six explanatory variables: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
- Publisher: UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) + Gallup
- Published annually since: 2012 (first report)
- Primary metric: Cantril Ladder Scale (0-10; 0 = worst possible life, 10 = best)
- Data source: Gallup World Poll; sample size: 1,000 respondents/country/year
- Three-year average: used to increase statistical reliability
- Six explanatory variables: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption
- Countries surveyed (2026): 147 countries
● Tracked since March 19, 2026 · last seen March 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes