Designated as the World's Most Joyful Urban Hub
In 2025, the annual Happy City Index crowned Copenhagen, Denmark as the happiest city with an impressive 1039 happiness points. Here's a breakdown of the top five, as previously reported by our site:
- 🇩🇰 Copenhagen: No surprise to the experts, this Danish city has long been associated with sustainable urban development and high quality of life. With over 69% eco-friendly transport, active bike and public transport usage, and a Museum of Happiness, Copenhagen stands as a truly inspiring city to live in.
- 🇨🇭 Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, earned 993 happiness points. The city has economic power, a high standard of living, and an active sustainable development policy, highlighted by initiatives in renewable energy and one of the world's most efficient healthcare systems.
- 🇰🇿Singapore scored 979 points, boasting world-renowned universities, high civic engagement, and practically zero unemployment. This demonstrates that happiness is possible even in megacities, given the right priorities.
- 🇩🇰 Odense: Denmark's second-largest city, takes the fourth position with its strong economy and high level of civic engagement.
- 🇧🇪 Antwerp: With 956 points, Antwerp overtakes South Korean Seoul to secure the fifth spot.
The Happy City Index categorizes cities into three groups based on their happiness scores:
- Golden Cities: Cities with the highest happiness scores (e.g., Copenhagen, Zurich, Singapore, Aarhus).
- Silver Cities: Cities with modestly lower happiness scores (e.g., Seoul, Stockholm, Taipei).
- Bronze Cities: Cities with lower happiness scores, still considered happy cities (e.g., Munich, Rotterdam, Vienna, Paris, Helsinki, Aalborg).
Besides these, other notable cities in the top 10 include Stockholm, Taipei, Munich, and Rotterdam.
Alcohol consumption and crime rates seem to have a reverse impact on reported happiness in some countries. For instance, cities in the rankings have legalized marijuana and offered various freedoms, often contributing to happiness. In contrast, countries with excessive alcohol consumption and partially banned substances report lower happiness levels, suggesting a link between health and overall happiness.
In 2024, cities in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries did not make it to the top 200. The ranking also does not include cities from Azerbaijan, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, and many other countries.
The Happy City Index underscores that happiness is the result of specific decisions—in urban infrastructure, education, inclusive policies, ecology, and innovation. Strong leadership in implementing well-being policies is essential, as happiness is perceived differently by various groups. For example, children may view happiness as playgrounds and parental attention, while the elderly require accessible healthcare and a safe environment.
And here's a little food for thought: small statistics could predict the happiness of either Astana or Almaty, depending on who's asking. Some might even place Arkalyk in the second-to-last place on the list, while others would challenge the ranking, insisting Amsterdam is the happiest city of all.
- What about Copenhagen's weather contributed to its status as the happiest city in 2025 with 1039 happiness points?
- In 2024, were cities in Kazakhstan's home-and-garden sector noted for sustainable living practices?
- With 956 points, Antwerp was the fifth happiest city, just ahead of South Korean Seoul. Can we expect a shift in the ranks next year?
- The Happy City Index suggests that lifestyle factors, such as eco-friendly transport and sustainable development policies, significantly impact happiness levels. Might similar initiatives be applied to cities like Almaty or Astana to improve happiness scores?
