HMC research centre publishes World Happiness Report 2025
HMC research centre publishes World Happiness Report 2025
The University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre – based at Harris Manchester College and directed by Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, the College’s Vice-Principal and Fellow and Tutor in Management – has published the World Happiness Report 2025 in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and an independent editorial board. The publication coincided with the UN’s International Day of Happiness.
Based on Gallup World Poll data and other sources, this year’s Report presents a number of key findings. They include a stronger connection between happiness and belief in the kindness of others than previously thought; evidence that sharing meals is strongly linked with wellbeing across global regions; support for a close link between household size and happiness; and a sharp increase in the number of young adults across the world reporting that they have no one to count on for social support.
Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve explains how sharing meals is tied to wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025 also features a ranking of the world’s happiest countries. Finland leads the world in happiness for the eighth year in a row, with Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th) both entering the top 10 for the first time. The United States and the United Kingdom are 24th and 23rd respectively.
Prof De Neve commented: “This year’s report pushes us to look beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth [...] In this era of social isolation and political polarisation we need to find ways to bring people around the table again – doing so is critical for our individual and collective wellbeing.”
The Wellbeing Research Centre is an interdisciplinary research group focused on the empirical study of wellbeing and is one of several research centres based at Harris Manchester.
College Principal Jane Shaw said: “We are delighted that such significant research on global happiness is being directed by the Wellbeing Research Centre here at Harris Manchester College, and we congratulate Jan de Neve and the whole team on this year’s publication of the World Happiness Report.”
