The science behind Finnish happiness
Why is Finland consistently ranked among the happiest countries in the world?
There is no single secret behind Finnish happiness. Research points to a combination of factors, including trust, social support, autonomy, equality, meaningful work, access to nature and a society in which relatively few people are left without support.
The World Happiness Report measures happiness primarily through people’s own evaluations of their lives. Finland has held the top position in the global ranking since 2018.
Explore the World Happiness Report
Finnish researchers have examined happiness and wellbeing from many different perspectives: individual meaning and life satisfaction, positive psychology, work engagement, social relationships, sustainable wellbeing and the structures of society.
Below, we introduce some of the Finnish researchers whose work helps us understand happiness more deeply.
Ilona Suojanen
Ilona Suojanen holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on happiness at work, sustainable happiness and the relationship between happiness and security.
Her work also offers a critical perspective on modern happiness culture. She has explored how happiness has increasingly become an expectation and a measure of success—particularly among young professionals. Her research highlights that responsibility for happiness cannot rest solely on the individual: workplaces, communities and society also shape people’s opportunities to live and work well.
Explore Ilona Suojanen’s research publications
Read: Young Professionals and the Pursuit of Happiness at Work
Jennifer De Paola
Jennifer De Paola, PhD, is a social psychologist and visiting scholar at the University of Helsinki. Her research interests include happiness, positive psychology and social representations—the shared ideas and beliefs through which people understand the world around them.
Her research examines how happiness is understood, portrayed and discussed in Finnish society, digital media and social media. She has also studied how Finnish children describe and visualise happiness and unhappiness. Her work offers an important perspective on the difference between international happiness rankings and people’s everyday experiences of happiness.
Explore Jennifer De Paola’s research and publications
Read: #Happy—Constructing and Sharing Everyday Understandings of Happiness on Instagram
Read: Are We Bad Winners? Public Understandings of the United Nations’ World Happiness Report
E. Elisabet Lahti
E. Elisabet Lahti, PhD, is a Finnish researcher and internationally recognised expert on sisu, the Finnish concept of inner strength and determination in the face of adversity.
Her research has helped define sisu scientifically and examine both its beneficial and potentially harmful forms. Constructive sisu can help people take action when their perceived resources have been exhausted. However, excessive or unbalanced sisu may lead people to push beyond healthy limits. Lahti’s work connects resilience with self-awareness, gentleness and humane strength.
Explore E. Elisabet Lahti’s research on sisu
Read: Embodied Fortitude—An Introduction to the Finnish Construct of Sisu
Explore the dissertation: Sisu as Guts, Grace, and Gentleness
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Finnish researchers exploring happiness and wellbeing
Frank Martela
Frank Martela is an Assistant Professor at Aalto University and one of Finland’s best-known researchers of happiness, meaning in life and human motivation.
His research explores what makes life worth living, how autonomy and a sense of purpose contribute to wellbeing, and why Finland and the other Nordic countries perform so well in international happiness comparisons. Martela has highlighted the importance of well-functioning institutions, trust, freedom, social support and a sense of personal agency.
Explore Frank Martela’s research and publications
Markku Ojanen
Markku Ojanen is a Finnish psychologist and long-standing researcher of happiness, wellbeing and positive psychology.
His work has examined how people experience happiness, which factors support a good life and how elements such as health, physical activity, relationships, gratitude and a sense of meaning are connected to wellbeing. Ojanen has played an important role in making happiness research and positive psychology accessible to Finnish audiences.
Explore Markku Ojanen’s research and publications
Read: Physical Activity and Experienced Wellbeing
Jari Hakanen
Jari Hakanen is a Research Professor at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and holds the title of docent at the University of Helsinki.
He is internationally known for his research on work engagement, burnout and the conditions that help people flourish at work. His work demonstrates that wellbeing at work is more than the absence of stress or exhaustion. Energy, dedication, meaningfulness and opportunities to use one’s strengths are important resources for both individuals and organizations.
Explore Jari Hakanen’s research and publications
Juho Saari
Juho Saari is a Finnish social scientist whose research focuses on wellbeing, inequality, loneliness, social relationships and the structures of the welfare state.
His work helps explain why happiness is not simply an individual experience. Social position, belonging, trust, security and access to support all shape people’s opportunities to live a satisfying life.
Explore Juho Saari’s research and publications
Read: The Portrayal of Lonely Finnish People
Lotta Uusitalo
Lotta Uusitalo is a Senior University Lecturer at the University of Helsinki and a prominent Finnish expert in positive psychology, character strengths and education.
Her research and practical work explore how recognising and developing individual strengths can support learning, inclusion, resilience and wellbeing. Her work has brought positive psychology and strength-based education into Finnish schools and everyday educational practice.
Explore Lotta Uusitalo’s research and publications
Explore her work on positive psychology
Arto O. Salonen
Arto O. Salonen is Professor of Sustainable Wellbeing at the University of Eastern Finland.
His interdisciplinary research examines the relationship between wellbeing, meaningfulness, social inclusion, sustainable lifestyles and planetary responsibility. His work expands the idea of happiness beyond personal satisfaction and asks how a good life can be built in ways that also support other people, society and the planet.
Explore Arto O. Salonen’s research and publications
Read: Is Sustainability About Education for Life Satisfaction?
From research to everyday life
Research shows that happiness is not a permanent emotional state or a life without difficulties. It is shaped by our relationships, daily choices, opportunities to influence our lives and the wider society around us.
Finnish happiness is often quiet and practical. It can be found in trust, safety, nature, meaningful activity, sufficient rest and the knowledge that support is available when it is needed.
At Happiness in Finland, we translate research-based knowledge into practical insights, exercises, keynotes, workshops and training programs. Our goal is to help individuals and organizations build happiness and wellbeing in ways that are realistic, sustainable and meaningful.
Would you like to learn more?
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We are happy to hear from researchers, organizations and international partners interested in happiness, wellbeing and sustainable working life.