While the Nordic countries have long dominated the World Happiness Report, 2026 brought one surprise. For the first time in the report's 14-year history, a Latin American country, Costa Rica, made its way into the top five.

长期以来，北欧国家一直稳居《世界幸福报告》前列，而 2026 年的榜单出现了一大惊喜。在该报告发布 14 年的历史中，哥斯达黎加作为一个拉丁美洲国家，首次跻身全球前五。

The rankings are based on a three-year average of how residents in 140 countries rate their own lives alongside factors such as GDP, social support, life expectancy, perceived freedom, generosity and corruption.

这份排名以三年平均数值为基础，综合了 140 个国家居民对自身生活的评价，以及诸如国内生产总值、社会支持、预期寿命、生活选择自由度、慷慨程度和腐败程度等因素。

Finland

芬兰

For nine of the past 10 years, Finland has ranked number one. The country scores highly for social support and low perceived corruption, and residents often point to the social safety net — including education and healthcare — that creates a sense of security and wellbeing.

过去十年里，芬兰有九年排名第一。该国社会支持评分高、腐败感知度低；此外，当地民众也普遍提到，覆盖教育、医疗等领域的社会保障体系，为人们带来了安全感与幸福感。

While the country has high taxes, residents see a clear trade-off. Olli Salo, co-founder of the Helsinki-based company Skimle, compares it to paying for a premium software subscription; while it may cost more, the quality is better. He also finds Finnish workplaces more collaborative than elsewhere in the world, with less hierarchy and less "corporate theatre".

尽管芬兰的税率很高，但民众能清楚地看到其中的权衡。总部位于赫尔辛基的公司 Skimle 的联合创始人奥利·萨洛，将其比作付费订阅软件的高级版本：虽说成本更高，但品质更佳。他还发现，芬兰职场的协作氛围优于全球多数地区，等级制度更少，也少有流于表面的“职场作秀”。

Costa Rica

哥斯达黎加

Climbing to fourth in this year's rankings, Costa Rica is the first Latin American country to make the top five. Costa Rica doesn't rank as highly for GDP or governmental support as the Nordic nations, but residents still report strong freedom to make their own life choices.

哥斯达黎加在今年的排名中上升到第四位，成为首个进入前五名的拉丁美洲国家。尽管该国的国内生产总值与政府支持力度不及北欧国家，但居民仍然表示，他们在生活选择方面享有充分的自由。

Nature is also a constant source of daily happiness. Adrian Hunt, a digital nomad who lives in Las Catalinas, describes waking up in the mornings, walking the beach and watching howler monkeys move from tree to tree while fish chase each other in the bay.

大自然也是当地人日常幸福感的持续来源。居住在拉斯卡塔利纳斯的数字游民艾德里安·亨特这样描述生活：清晨醒来漫步海滩，看吼猴穿梭林间，赏海湾中的鱼群互相追逐。

Hunt said, "There is something about the energy of the people, both locals and expats, that makes this country pretty special."

亨特说道：“无论是本土居民还是外国旅居者，他们身上独有的活力，让这个国家格外与众不同。”