World Happiness Day

International Day of Happiness, also known as the United Nations International Day of Happiness, is a global observance celebrated on 20 March each year by all 193 member states of the United Nations (UN). This special day was proclaimed to recognize happiness and well-being as universal goals and to promote a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth.

An image representing happy people. (Generated by artificial intelligence.)

Historical Development and Establishment

The understanding of happiness as a fundamental human goal was formalized within the United Nations General Assembly through initiatives by Bhutan.

• Initiating Country: Bhutan has been the first country to adopt the concept of Gross National Happiness since the 1970s, prioritizing national well-being over national income.
• 2011: The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing happiness as a fundamental human goal.
• 2012: On 12 July, Resolution 66/281 officially proclaimed 20 March as the International Day of Happiness.
• 2013: The first official celebrations took place with events such as meditation in Bhutan, flash mobs in London, and laughter yoga in Hong Kong.

Today, this campaign is coordinated by the non-profit movement Action for Happiness, which has participants from 160 countries.

An image representing happy people. (Generated by artificial intelligence.)

World Happiness Report and Scientific Parameters

The annual World Happiness Report (WHR), published every 20 March, is a scientific study prepared by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The report analyzes countries’ levels of happiness based on the following key parameters:

• Economic Strength: Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
• Social Support: The presence of social networks and having someone to rely on in times of need.
• Health: Healthy life expectancy data.
• Freedom: Freedom to make life choices.
• Trust: Perceptions of corruption and societal trust in institutions.
• Generosity: Tendencies toward charitable giving and altruism within society.

Table of the 25 happiest countries according to 2025 data. (Day of Happiness)

According to 2020 data, Finland was ranked the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands. The 2024 insights focused on “happiness for young people, older adults and everyone in between,” while the 2026 report will explore the theme of “Well-being in the Digital Age”, examining the impact of social media on life satisfaction.

Social Connections, Education and Digital Well-being

Scientific findings demonstrate that the quality of social interactions and public services plays a decisive role in well-being.

• Social Bonds: Belief in the goodwill of others and strong social connections are directly linked to happiness.
• Role of Governments: Ensuring peace, effectively delivering public services (taxation, legal systems, etc.) and investing in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals directly increase average life satisfaction.
• Happiness in Education: Prioritizing a sense of belonging, positive well-being and active participation in learning experiences is considered an essential factor for happiness in educational settings.
• Digital Well-being: In the modern world, maintaining psychological well-being is encouraged by following positive social media accounts, making kind comments and avoiding phone use before sleep (digital detox).