Finland is the happiest country for third year in a row

Finland was once again the world's happiest country, extending its lead over Denmark and Switzerland, according to the annual World Happiness Report by the the United Nations.

All the Nordic countries fit into the top seven. Iceland is ranked fourth, Norway in fifth and Sweden in seventh place.

The rest of the top ten countries are the Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria and Luxembourg.

Canada is ranked 11th. The country slipped outside the top ten, as it was ninth in the previous report.

The United States is ranked 18th, ahead of Australia, Costa Rica and Germany.

Afghanistan ranked lowest

The twenty happiest countries are still the same as a year ago, but there are changes in the order of the countries.

Afghanistan ranked lowest among 153 countries, with South Sudan and Zimbabwe just above it. 

The World Happiness Report is based on the average of surveys conducted between 2017 and 2019.