In nine years, Canada has fallen from fifth place to fifteenth. Photo Credit: Pexels.
The latest World Happiness Report for 2024, produced annually by the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, contains some unfortunate news for Canada. Although our overall ranking of 15th out of the 134 countries included doesn’t look too bad, this represents a severe deterioration since 2015 when we ranked in fifth position. The four happiest countries were Finland, Iceland, Denmark and Sweden. And in case you’re tempted to write off Canada’s decline in overall happiness by thinking everything in the world is a mess right now so no wonder we’re less happy, the country in fifth place was Israel, which despite its horrendous current issues ranks well above Canada. The U.S. ranked even lower than Canada in 23rd position, declining significantly from last year when it had been in the 15th spot.
The study looks at a number of components of overall happiness, including such elements as GDP per capita, life expectancy at birth, social support, perceptions of corruption and the freedom to make choices. One of the most serious sources of decline in happiness for Canadians was in the freedom to make choices. On this variable, Canada’s ranking fell from 2nd to 38th over the last decade. This is not especially surprising as this period encompassed the pandemic, when much more control over all of our lives was exercised by government. Mind you, all countries surveyed experienced the pandemic and did not express the same viewpoint. Canada’s decline was also likely a result of the Trudeau government’s increasing censorship and control over things such as internet content and subsidization of much of the news media.
Canada’s overall rank also declined substantially for the criteria of social support and GDP per capita, both of which fell by about 15 points. The decline in our standard of living, represented by GDP per capita, has been well documented in recent years so this result is not a surprise. Declines were also seen in Canada’s position regarding life expectancy and perceptions of corruption. All of these concerns tended to be more pronounced in younger age groups.
Some of the biggest changes over the last decade can be seen when looking at different age groups. Results for all countries shows that younger people are typically happier than older people, which seems to be common sense. In Western Europe, there is little difference in happiness levels for the various age groups. In Eastern and Central Europe, young people are generally happier than older age groups.
This is not the case, however, for North America where happiness has fallen sharply for younger people. In Canada, for instance, happiness levels for people under 30 has declined more than in virtually all other countries studied. The only countries in which youth under 30 ranked lower than Canada were Venezuela, Lebanon, Jordan and Afghanistan – countries that one would not normally think were comparable to Canada. In contrast, Canadians over the age of 60 were the happiest group, ranking eighth compared to all other countries. Data for the U.S. showed similar patterns to that of Canada, although the decline in happiness for young people was less extreme.
It is truly worrisome that our young people are so pessimistic. Happiness qualities are not just “nice to have” but make a significant impact on our economy and society. Research has shown that happier populations tend to be more productive and undertake greater consumer spending, driving economic growth and increased prosperity. Levels of criminal activity also tend to be lower when people have an overall higher level of happiness and wellbeing. When Canadian youth are less positive about their lives than seniors, it does not bode well for Canada’s future.
There is no doubt that Canada’s economy and social cohesiveness has been in decline over the past decade, as confirmed by this study as well as a multitude of other economic data and public opinion polling. Much of this has been self-inflicted by the damaging economic policies of the Trudeau government and some provincial governments as well, which have collectively lowered our standard of living, reduced our freedoms as government size, cost and influence has greatly expanded, and impaired such things as the ability of young people to fulfill their expectations of being able to buy a home and start a family. It will be interesting to see if the dissatisfaction with the status quo as indicated by this happiness study will be reflected in voting patterns during the imminent federal election.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals.
