In a world often filled with headlines of conflict, crisis, violence, and uncertainty, something is uplifting about discovering where happiness thrives.
And once again, the vibrant spirit of Pura Vida shines through—Costa Rica has officially been named the happiest country in Central America, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, ranking 6th globally.
It’s a testament to the country’s enduring appeal and the joyful lifestyle that continues to inspire the world and set the standard in the region.
This marks another strong showing for the Central American paradise, which ranked 3rd globally in 2023 and 4th in 2024.
Costa Rica might’ve slipped a bit in the global rankings, but it still shines as a well-being powerhouse in the region.
Trailing Costa Rica in the Central American rankings is El Salvador, which continues to show promising strides in national well-being.
El Pulgarcito de America holds a global rank of 37, improving from 41 in 2024, though slightly lower than its 36th position in 2023.
El Salvador’s upward trajectory reflects its growing emphasis on safety, public health, and economic opportunity.
Panama follows closely behind at 41st globally, taking third place in the region. Guatemala ranks 44th, Nicaragua at 47th, and Honduras comes in last among its Central American peers at 63rd globally.
Globally, the top three happiest nations are Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, with Finland holding the top spot for an impressive eight consecutive years.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and Lebanon rank as the least happy countries in the world.
The World Happiness Report draws on Gallup World Poll data collected from more than 140 countries, measuring happiness based on people’s average life evaluations over the past three years—in this case, 2022 to 2024.
The report is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Well-being Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and a dedicated editorial board.
