Israeli Innovation: A country that ranks among the happiest
Since 2012, the annually published World Happiness Report measures how people around the world rate their own lives.
Israel is consistently near the top.
Over the past decade, it has ranked in the top 20 every year, and in recent years has been in or around the top 5. Since October 7, Israel hasn't ranked lower than eigth out of 147 countries.
It’s not what most people would expect.
The countries that usually sit at the very top tend to be the Nordic countries; stable, wealthy and peaceful, where life runs predictably and institutions are strong.
Israel is obviously different, facing ongoing security threats, political tension and a high cost of living. Not what one would assume are ideal conditions for happiness.
And yet, the results are remarkably steady.
Researchers point to a few things that help explain it.
Strong family structures and close social networks mean people are rarely isolated. There is a high level of community involvement and a sense that people are part of something larger than themselves. Many Israelis also report a strong sense of purpose, shaped by shared responsibility, national service and collective experience.
Daily life is often built around being together, meals, gatherings and time spent with others. People rely on each other, and that support is real and immediate.These are the factors that tend to matter most when people are asked to rate their lives.
In Israel, they are part of everyday life.That may help explain why, even in the middle of uncertainty, people still report a strong sense that their lives are good.