Each year, the World Happiness Report releases an annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world and in 2024, for the seventh consecutive year in a row, Finland came our on top. But not for people under 30.
That accolade went to Lithuania, bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russia.
“When you look from the United States ... it’s somewhere near Russia,” an area that is often linked to danger, says Junona Almonaitienė, an associate professor in the health psychology department at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.
“Lithuania regained its independence not so long ago - it was in 1990,” said Antanas Kairys, an associate professor in the department of general psychology at Vilnius University. “That means that young people under 30 have spent their life entirely in independent Lithuania while other age groups ... experienced the harsh reality of [the] Soviet Union.”
Since then, Lithuania’s economy has improved along with its credentials within the 'European cub' with 2004 being its watershed year when it joined NATO and became a member of the European Union. “Lithuania had a really strong transformation of its economy and society, and I think the main factor of this happiness is that Lithuania is ... strong, safe and a modern democracy,” Kairys said.
Experts suggest other aspects of the country’s culture and norms help boost happiness in young people, such as:
People feel a sense of opportunity: According to Kairys, Lithuania’s economic growth not only means young people have more money overall, but it creates future opportunities for them.
They prioritise time with family and loved ones: "Family ties are still very strong in our country,” Almonaitienė said. If they work or go to school in a different part of the country, Lithuania is small enough for them to still easily visit their hometown. It’s well-established that social connections are key to well-being, so it’s no surprise that familial connections aid in young peoples’ happiness.
Gratitude for their current circumstances: “I think that I should mention that we have something to compare with ... historically ... youth can compare their own experience with experiences of parents or grandparents,” said Kairys, adding that young peoples’ parents and grandparents had to endure a problematic and difficult time with the Soviet Union.
With neighbouring countries that often deal with conflict and unrest, feeling grateful for the upward trajectory of the country is only natural. But it also helps people appreciate what they have and encourages them to do the most with it while they can.
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