So, you thought you were alone in feeling like a sad sloth? Wrong! Welcome to the club where the U.S. has officially dropped to No. 24 on the 2025 World Happiness Index, marking its worst ranking in history. In total, 140 countries were ranked, and Finland just waltzed in to claim the top spot once again, as if they were competing on a global happy scale. Seriously, how do they do it? Did they find the secret to eternal joy in those sauna sessions?

While Finland enjoys its eighth consecutive year as the happiest country, even with a neighbor like Russia brewing chaos, the U.S. quietly spirals downward from its once-respectable 11th place. That’s right; the land of opportunity is now also the land of misery, and the survey says this decline isn’t just a fluke. A report by the University of Oxford and Gallup pretty much points fingers at political polarization, economic anxiety, and the cost of living. I mean, who knew a few partisan rants could be so… unhygienic for our happiness?

The survey found that the growing unhappiness has driven citizens toward extremes in politics, with disillusioned voters feeling comfortable giving anti-system candidates a shot. Speaker of despair, Mark Williamson, CEO of the nonprofit Action for Happiness, indicated that anxiety levels are skyrocketing, meaning we’re not just upset anymore; we’re collectively on the verge of a meltdown.

To add insult to injury, young adults are reported to be the most miserable, experiencing the least amount of social bonding according to the same study. About 20% of Gen Zers and Millennials claim they lack any social support. If you need a side of reality, consider that nearly 1 in 4 Americans now eats all their meals solo. That’s an increase of 53% since 2003. Looks like dining alone is the new dining-in-style!

Despite this gloomy outlook, let’s not reach for the ice cream just yet. The report offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that fostering kindness could boost social trust, because, apparently, the world is filled with secretly nice people. So next time you lose your wallet, there’s a good chance someone will return it. Maybe there’s a reason to smile after all? Let’s give it a shot!

The world might be upside down, but if we all channel our inner Finland, maybe we can climb out of this pit of despair together, one act of kindness at a time. Who’s with me?

Stay sassy, stay strong, and who knows, maybe if we all try a little harder to be nice, we might just crack the U.S. top ten again.