The world’s happiest countries have something to teach us.
Finland ranks No. 1 again in the 2026 World Happiness Report.
The United States? No. 23.
But look at No. 4.
Costa Rica.
It’s not one of the world’s richest countries.
But its people rate their lives higher than people in…
- Sweden
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
Why?
Here are their three treasures for a happier life.
1. The happiest people never forsake family
The 2025 World Happiness Report notes the strong family bonds in Latin American countries.
Family isn’t someone you belong to.
They’re the ones who show up for you in any situation. Think of family like a choir.
When life gets hard, that support is precious.
A choir doesn’t succeed because everyone sings the same note.
It succeeds because different voices come together in harmony.
Families aren’t so different.
Never give up on each other.
2. The happiest eat together
Latin American countries like Costa Rica lead the world in meal sharing.
Folks in these countries share about 9 meals with others every week.
The United States?
We joke about it.
- “Our family has a rule: No politics at the dinner table. We’ve been eating in silence for years.”
- “At our house, dinner is served at six. Arguments begin at six-oh-five.”
- “Thanksgiving is the one day we gather with relatives we haven’t seen all year to remember why we haven’t seen them all year.”
But here’s something worth thinking about.
The 2025 World Happiness Report found that people who share more meals tend to be happier.
Maybe it’s not just what’s on the table.
It’s who’s sitting around it.
3. The happiest find joy in worshipping together
Here’s something that might surprise you.
A Pew Research Center study found that 36% of Americans who regularly attend religious services describe themselves as “very happy.”
Among those who seldom attend or have no religious affiliation?
Just 25%.
That’s an 11-percentage-point difference.
And it’s not just an American phenomenon. Researchers found a similar connection between worship attendance and happiness in numerous countries worldwide.
Why?
Perhaps because faith is more than something we believe.
It’s something we share.
At 71, I’m grateful for the joy shared at the men’s fellowship at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Every Tuesday morning, about 200 men come together in person and online to meet for an hour of fellowship, teaching, and table discussion.
Below is a presentation I recently gave at Ascent on the substance of that joy.
How might you simplify your choices for a happier life?
Stories like this are part of the reflections I write about living fully, finding joy, and making life count, which you can explore on my About Stephen Blaising page.