Britain’s Daily Mail challenges Finland’s happiness ranking

By admin On May 8, 2025

People walking on the street on a sunny day in Helsinki. Photo: Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva

British newspaper Daily Mail has published a critical report questioning Finland’s reputation as the world’s happiest country, describing its capital as grey, impoverished, and burdened by social problems.

The feature, written from Helsinki, paints a bleak picture of everyday life in the country repeatedly ranked first in the UN’s annual World Happiness Report. It features interviews with residents from across Finland who express scepticism about the title.

“We’ve been named the happiest people in the world… but we think it’s nonsense,” the article begins.

The newspaper interviewed residents queueing at the Hursti food bank in central Helsinki, including Alexander, 63, an unemployed tailor. “It’s bull****,” he said. “Our government is cutting everything. We were tied to Nokia for a long time, but when it collapsed, so did the country.”

Hursti food bank staff say demand has risen sharply. Sini Hursti, who runs the centre, reported that over 2,000 people now seek assistance each week. “When I see these queues, I can’t agree Finland is the happiest country,” she told the paper. Her father Heikki Hursti, now deputy director, added that the number of first-time visitors is growing, including students and families.

The report also points to economic pressures. According to the Daily Mail, Finland’s unemployment rate is around 9 percent, nearly double that of the UK. While gross wages are higher in Finland, heavy taxation reduces take-home pay. Recent government decisions to cut housing and parental benefits, freeze unemployment support, and increase healthcare fees were highlighted as signs of a weakening welfare system.

In East Helsinki, the paper visited Vaasankatu and Sörnäinen, referring to the area as Helsinki’s “red-light district” and describing scenes of drug use and arrests. Daniel Schrack, 30, a homeless drug user, said: “I think Finland is far from the happiest place on earth. I’ve been waiting for housing for eight years.”

The article notes ongoing public order issues and refers to Piritori in Alppiharju and Kontula in East Helsinki as areas associated with drugs and gang activity. It describes Helsinki’s railway station as equipped with needle disposal boxes, suggesting widespread drug use.

The report also explores the psychological toll of the long, dark winters and geopolitical anxieties stemming from Finland’s proximity to Russia. It includes interviews with residents in Lappeenranta, near the Russian border. Pekka Tiimo, a fire safety officer, said he is concerned about future security threats. “I have a gun at home, but that wouldn’t stop much if Russia invaded,” he said.

Maritta Tiimo, a local hairdresser, said happiness is subjective. “People have their own situations. That’s what decides if they’re happy.”

Some interviewed by the newspaper acknowledged the benefits of Finnish society. Onerva Girs, a 22-year-old teacher, said: “Being born in Finland is like winning the lottery. We complain a lot, but I’d rather live here than anywhere else.”

Niko Suokko, 28, a traffic engineer, suggested the index measures the potential for happiness. “If the government works, transport works, you have a job and education – you have the chance to be happy.”

While the article challenges Finland’s top position in the UN’s World Happiness Report, it also notes aspects of the welfare state many Finns value, such as free education, healthcare, and low crime rates.

The Daily Mail’s assessment has drawn attention in Finland, where officials and media outlets reacted to the coverage. Critics say the happiness ranking oversimplifies well-being by relying on surveys rather than reflecting systemic inequalities.

Wille Rydman, Minister of Economic Affairs, commented that Finland faces significant structural issues despite positive global perceptions. “There are real challenges, especially for low-income households,” he said in a separate interview.

The World Happiness Report is compiled by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi