The World Happiness Report for 2024 was recently released, and Finland topped the list for the 7th year in a row! This report shed light on a couple of issues in certain countries, particularly in the United States and the Western Hemisphere in general. The US dropped below the top 20 of the happiest countries in the world for the first time since this report was issued. Also, stats show that younger generations in the west are considerably less happy than boomers.
Many of these statistics have raised eyebrows and drawn concerns about the well-being of younger generations. Multiple factors could be keeping younger generations less happy, with financial uncertainty potentially being the leading cause of sadness. What is it, then, that America could learn from the Fins? After all, locals have shown to be consistently happy despite the hardships within the country, which may very well be why not many tourists want to go there.
One of the main reasons why Finland doesn’t get as many visitors is because the winters there are very harsh. There’s only about a 2-month window between June and July where you can expect decent weather while on your trip. Even then, it’s still a good idea to carry a jacket in your luggage as the nights can get chilly. Speaking of the night, during the summer months you’ll still see plenty of light out, even late at night. In contrast, though, during the other months of the year the country sees a limited number of sunlight hours a day. That’s essentially reason number two as to why not many people want to visit.
Why are ” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>locals reported as being the happiest people in the world, though? Apart from being the happiest country in the world, Finland also tops the list of the safest places across the globe. It’s the country with the least organized crime. The pension system is considered one of the best. Fins also report feeling the most free, and as a country, they generally trust both their government and judicial system. Putting two and two together, it would seem that this is a place where people have decent-paying jobs that allow them to afford a good life. In general, locals perceive their government as an ally. All that helps them combat the harsh winters and the long nights!
If tourists can feel safe while in Finland, and locals are generally well-meaning, why doesn’t the country receive more guests? The general consensus amongst travel writers and trolls on Trip Advisor is that the country is rather dull. It’s smaller and has fewer attractions than some neighboring countries like Norway or Sweden. Helsinki, its capital city, is a beautiful place surrounded by lakes and forests. Travelers can pretty much get around to the city’s main attractions all on foot. As mentioned, though, many people claim that it’ll take you only a day to see everything that there is to see. Finland may just be worth a day trip to see for yourself if you can find a glimpse of why these people are so happy there!
