Neither Singapore nor Tokyo: this is the happiest city in the world where only one U.S. city is in the top 20
This wonderful, wonderful city tops the Happy City Index ranking for 2025 but where do US cities feature? Let’s take a look.
All great cities are shaped by their residents but it’s very much a two-way relationship - the grand metropolises also play a vital role in ensuring the happiness of their residents.
Every year, London-based organisation Institute for Quality of Life, ranks 200 cities across the world using 82 indicators across six broad categories: governance, environment, economy, mobility, citizens and health. All of these areas have a direct impact on the happiness and wellbeing of a city’s inhabitants.
The Happy City Index ranking is divided into three sections: Gold (1-31), Silver (32-100) and Bronze (101-200). For the second year running, a Danish city tops the list. In 2024, Aarhus, the Scandinavian country’s second largest city topped the Happy City Index and this year, the capital Copenhagen is No.1.
A walk around The Citadel is bound to make you feel like having entered a fairy tale👸🏻🤴🏼 pic.twitter.com/11odjdN1Nn
— VisitCopenhagen (@VisitCopenhagen) February 10, 2021
New York, the top US city in 2025
Interestingly, just two US cities appear in the list of Gold cities - New York polled 902 points and is ranked 17th and Minneapolis, which was 18th last year but has slid down to 30th, with 845 points.
2015 Happy City Index: Gold Cities
- Copenhagen (1039 points)
- Zurich (993 points)
- Singapore (979 points)
- Aarhus (958 points)
- Antwerp (956 points)
- Seoul (942 points)
- Stockholm (941 points)
- Taipei (936 points)
- Munich (931 points)
- Rotterdam (920 points)
- Vancouver (919 points)
- Vienna (918 points)
- Paris (909 points)
- Helsinki (908 points)
- Aalborg (906 points)
- Berlin (905 points)
- New York City (902 points)
- Dresden (893 points)
- Brussels (887 points)
- Geneva (883 points)
- Porto (879 points)
- Barcelona (875 points)
- Oslo (870 points)
- Dublin (862 points)
- Milan (856 points)
- Roskilde (855 points)
- Reykjavik (854 points)
- Auckland (853 points)
- Adelaide (846 points)
- Minneapolis (845 points)
- London (842 points)
The Big Apple scored high on Governance (226) but didn’t fare so well went it came to Health, scoring a miserable 97. Minneapolis meanwhile, had the lowest score of all the cities in the top 31 in the Citizens category (134) but boosted its position in two other areas: Economy (172) and Environment (179).
The next US cities appear in the Silver section: San Diego - 34th with 831 points, Washington DC - 43rd (813 points), Salt Lake City - 56th (780 points), Columbus - 63rd (771 points), Los Angeles - 70th (756 points), Seattle - 80th (750 points), Baltimore - 84th (741 points), San Antonio - 89th (726 points) and Nashville in 96th (718 points)
The index highlights cultural factors that contribute to urban well-being, and Copenhagen excels in that regard. Over 70% of residents report trusting their neighbors, fostering a strong sense of community. Crime rates are low, and a peaceful coexistence is embedded in everyday life— as shown in the number of unlocked bicycles, children able to walk to school on their own... etc.
Denmark is known for its bicycle culture and bicycle paths – and the bicycle bridges are no exception 🚴
— Denmark.dk (@denmarkdotdk) August 22, 2024
Architecture, good infrastructure and urban mobility play a crucial part in tackling the climate crisis and reducing CO2 🌍
Did you know that 9 out of 10 Danes own a bike? 🙋 pic.twitter.com/27LhaWgh3Z
Copenhagen’s qualities
The city’s design also actively promotes healthy habits - such as walking, cycling, outdoor activities; and socializing in cafés and public squares are all integral to daily life. All of that makes Copenhagen a pleasant place to live in or visit.
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