Every year, the Happy City Index releases a report that ranks the happiest cities in the world – and the results are in for 2025.
The index, run by the London-based organisation Institute for Quality of Life, ranks 200 cities using 82 indicators across six broad categories, including governance, environment, economy, mobility, and citizens, which includes indicators like education and access to cultural institutions. The sixth category, which is new to the list in 2025, is around the theme of health, with indicators such as mental health, safety, nutrition, and work-life balance.
Based on these criteria, the cities are ranked on three different lists: gold, silver, and bronze. The top 31 happiest cities are the “gold cities.” In 2025, cities in regions all around the world made the gold list, including Europe, Asia, North America, and the South Pacific.
Even two US cities took gold as part of the top 31 rankings: New York City, which clocked in as the 17th happiest city for being a “hub of innovation” where sustainable transportation options are on the rise; and Minneapolis, which is the 30th happiest, highlighting the abundant access to clean air and green spaces.
Authors of the report realise that happiness can be a moving target. “There is no single perfect place to live that guarantees happiness for all its residents,” the report says. “However, some cities implement urban policies with remarkable wisdom, continuously analysing their effectiveness, and their results are clearly reflected in the data.”
Here’s a look at the top five happiest cities in the world for 2025, according to the Happiest Cities Index. For more, these are the happiest countries in the world.
5. Antwerp, Belgium
This city on Belgium’s Scheldt River scored top-tier happiness points for its high education statistics, solid transportation options, and health-conscious residents. “Around 7 per cent of residents actively engage in lifelong learning, and nearly a quarter (24.8 per cent) of the population holds a master's degree,” according to the report. Antwerp’s life expectancy is high, at 81.2 years. Plus, “access to medical care is among the best in the region,” the index states, with 99 per cent of the population covered by medical insurance and six doctors per 1,000 residents. However, the city’s score was dinged for having limited green space, with just 0.07 parks per square kilometer.
4. Aarhus, Denmark
Denmark’s second-largest city “prioritises the health and well-being of its citizens,” the Happy City Index states. The city has 100 per cent medical insurance coverage and provides access to 4.4 doctors per 1,000 residents, with an average life expectancy is 81.3 years. Work-life balance is also important in Aarhus, with an average workweek of 37 hours. Education is a priority for most citizens, with 11 per cent of the city's population engaged in lifelong learning, 20% holding a master's degree, and a whopping 86 per cent proficient in at least one foreign language. When it comes time to relax, there are “ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and connection with nature,” according to the report, with an average of 1.35 parks per square kilometre. A majority of its transportation options – 53 per cent – are classified as green mobility, which helps Aarhus to have a PM10 air quality index of 17, meaning the air is clean and breathable.
3. Singapore
As “a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance, and urban innovation,” Singapore was rated as the third-happiest city on the planet. The city prioritises the environment, with plenty of green space – 0.62 parks per square kilometre – and a high share of sustainable transit options (67 per cent of Singapore’s transportation is considered green mobility). Life expectancy is 83 years, and 15 per cent of adults in the city-state receive coordinated mental care. Singapore is also an entrepreneurial city, with 101.67 businesses per 1,000 residents and numerous new businesses continually opening each year. The unemployment rate is “exceptionally low” at just 2 per cent, and the city can also call itself one of the safest in the world, according to the index, with just 3.31 recorded incidents of public violence per 1,000 residents. “Singapore continues to push the boundaries of what a modern city can achieve,” the index states.
2. Zurich
As an international banking hub, Zurich is known around the world for its wealth. Indeed, average earnings in the city “surpass the national average by 75 per cent, making it one of the wealthiest urban centres worldwide,” the report says. However, there’s more to this Swiss metropolis’s happiness quotient than healthy bank accounts. In Zurich, top-notch education is readily accessible to residents: the city is home to universities that are ranked among the top 50 institutions in the world, but pursuing a degree is still affordable, “with only 2.9% of income required to cover study costs,” the index states. Universal medical coverage and a widespread availability of doctors (4.5 per 1,000 residents) help Zurich have a high life expectancy of 83.8 years. What's more: “Zurich’s mobility and transport infrastructure is one of the most efficient in Europe,” according to the index. Green mobility makes up an impressive 74% of transportation options, and the city also “maintains one of the safest road networks, with a traffic-related fatality rate of just 0.07 per 10,000 residents.” Zurich has an excellent air quality index, with an average PM10 pollution level of 16. “The city’s commitment to sustainability ensures a high quality of life for its residents,” the report states.
1. Copenhagen
Denmark’s capital was ranked as the happiest city in the world, as it “seamlessly blends history, modernity, and sustainability,” the index states. Copenhagen scored high marks for prioritising innovation and education. “It fosters a strong learning culture, with 11 per cent of residents engaged in lifelong education,” according to the report. Additionally, 86 per cent of citizens are fluent in at least one foreign language and 20 per cent hold master's degrees. With those education credentials, citizens are entrepreneurial, and the city has an impressive 230.2 businesses per 1,000 residents. That hard work pays off, with average earnings across Copenhagen 60% higher than the rest of Denmark. Yet, work-life balance is a priority across the city, and the average work week is only 37 hours. The city also provides plenty of eco-friendly transportation, with 69 per cent of all its travel considered to be green mobility. As such, it has fresh, clean air with an average PM10 air pollution level of just 17. In Copenhagen, green spaces abound, with 0.96 parks per square kilometre. “Health and well-being are cornerstones of life” in the city, with universal healthcare, access to 4.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants, and 17.8 per cent of adults enrolled in coordinated mental health treatment, the study states.
The top 30 happiest cities
1. Copenhagen
2. Zurich
3. Singapore
4. Aarhus, Denmark
5. Antwerp, Belgium
6. Seoul
7. Stockholm
8. Taipei, Taiwan
9. Munich
10. Rotterdam, Netherlands
11. Vancouver
12. Vienna
13. Paris
14. Helsinki
15. Aalborg, Denmark
16. Berlin
17. New York City
18. Dresden, Germany
19. Brussels
20. Geneva
21. Porto, Portugal
22. Barcelona
23. Oslo
24. Dublin
25. Milan
26. Roskilde, Denmark
27. Reykjavik, Iceland
28. Auckland, New Zealand
29. Adelaide, Australia
30. Minneapolis