Iceland vs Sweden: Happiness vs. life satisfaction

Iceland
7.54
in 2025
Sweden
7.25
in 2025
Iceland rank
2nd
Sweden rank
5th

Happiness vs. life satisfaction over time

  • Iceland
  • Sweden
02468201120182025

How they compare

Iceland currently reports 7.54 against 7.25 in Sweden, a difference of 0.29.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 14 shared years of data; in 2011 it was Sweden ahead.

Iceland ranks 2nd and Sweden ranks 5th of 157 countries.

Iceland has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Iceland Sweden Difference Ahead
2010s 7.41 7.35 0.0617 Iceland
2020s 7.54 7.35 0.1892 Iceland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher happiness vs. life satisfaction, Iceland or Sweden?
Iceland, at 7.54 against 7.25 in Sweden as of 2025.
What is the difference in happiness vs. life satisfaction between Iceland and Sweden?
0.29, with Iceland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Iceland and Sweden?
14 years are reported by both, from 2011 to 2025.
How do Iceland and Sweden rank globally for happiness vs. life satisfaction?
Iceland ranks 2nd and Sweden ranks 5th of 157 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Happiness vs. life satisfaction. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator
Happiness vs. life satisfaction
Source
Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
157 places, 2,073 data points, 2011–2025
Last refreshed

Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.