The happiest place on Earth isn’t Disneyland.
People feeling down in the dumps should consider relocating to Copenhagen, Denmark, which has been named the happiest city in the world in 2025 by the Institute for Quality of Life.
Meanwhile, the Big Apple was named number one in the US on the so-called Happy City Index, seemingly going against Gothamites’ reputation as perpetual bellyachers and malcontents.
Each year, the Institute, which conducts research on various aspects related to quality of life, ranks cities committed to “cultivating and growing happiness,” per the site.
While happiness is hard to quantify, the organization strove to encompass everyone by utilizing 82 different joy indicators, including access to public services, education, environmental protection, and inclusive policies.
They even interviewed citizens across the globe to glean their insights into urban jungle jubilation.
The Institute then boiled these factors down into six themes — citizens, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility — and ranked them according to the total points across each category.
“We have no doubt that the Index will continue to evolve, providing an increasingly accurate measure of the sense of happiness among residents in the selected cities,” they wrote.
Topping the list was Copenhagen with 1,039 points.
The survey noted that the Danish capital scores high in education and innovation, transparency in governance, sustainability, and access to health care.
“Health and well-being are cornerstones of life in Copenhagen,” they write. “The city boasts universal healthcare coverage, with every resident insured and access to 4.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. Life expectancy stands at 79.9 years, supported by a well-balanced lifestyle that includes an average workweek of 37 hours.”
They also noted that the metropolis is a leader when it comes to green transportation as “69% of all travel in the city is environmentally friendly.”
Following close behind was Zurich, Switzerland (993 points) and then Singapore (979) while another Denmark metropolis, Aarhus (958) came in fourth, proving that the frigid Scandinavian weather isn’t putting a damper on inhabitants’ moods.
Meanwhile, Antwerp, Belgium rounded out the top five with 956 points.
As for the US, New York City (902) snagged the top spot in the index and was ranked 17th overall.
According to the survey, our ranking was likely borne aloft — not by naturally sunny dispositions — but rather the city’s massive bankroll.
“New York City, a global icon of finance, culture, and innovation, is a metropolis that never sleeps,” they wrote. “With a staggering budget of 187.18 billion GBP in 2024, the city accounts for 2.6% of the U.S. population and continues to be a driving force in the nation’s economy, boasting a GDP per capita of 67,742 GBP and a robust growth rate of 2.9%.”
This comes after the Big Apple city with the most billionaires on Earth for the fourth consecutive year, boasting a staggering 123 nine-figure-plus holders worth a combined $759 billion.
Other US cities named on the list include Minneapolis (number 30), San Diego (number 34), Washington DC (number 43) and Salt Lake City (number 56).
The top 20 happiest cities in the world were:
- Copenhagen, Denmark (1039)
- Zurich, Switzerland (993)
- Singapore (979)
- Aarhus, Denmark (958)
- Antwerp, Belgium (956)
- Seoul, South Korea (942)
- Stockholm, Sweden (941)
- Taipei, Taiwan (936)
- Munich, Germany (931)
- Rotterdam, Netherlands (920)
- Vancouver, Canada (919)
- Vienna, Austria (918)
- Paris, France (909)
- Helsinki, Finland (908)
- Aalborg, Denmark (906)
- Berlin, Germany (905)
- New York, USA (902)
- Dresden, Germany (893)
- Brussels, Belgium (887)
- Geneva, Switzerland (883)
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