What’s happening

Despite enduring significant turmoil, Israel has remarkably secured the 8th spot in life satisfaction according to the 2025 UN World Happiness Report. While Israelis exhibit profound social support and quality relationships, the report signals challenges with public trust and burgeoning negative emotions following a tumultuous year.

Why it matters

This high ranking underscores the resilience and the indomitable spirit of Israeli society amidst adversity. The report sheds light on the nation’s strong social cohesion and support networks, vital during testing times. Nevertheless, areas such as trust in public institutions demonstrate room for strategic enhancements.

The big picture

The 2025 World Happiness Report draws from data between 2022 and 2024. Even amid war and internal protests, Israel’s social fabric—which includes impressive rates of generosity and quality of social connections—significantly bolstered its standings. Despite a points drop in public trust and life expectancy, Israel excelled in social parameters where it is internationally ranked highly.

Expert insight

Dr. Anat Fanti from Bar-Ilan University expounds on the findings, illuminating Israel’s strength in providing support and fostering young people’s life satisfaction, earning them top national positions despite recent conflicts.

The emotional aspect

Addressing the emotional dimension, Israel sees challenges in the increase of worry and sadness, reflected by its 50th rank in the negative emotions index. These trends illuminate the psychological toll of war, offering positions where improvement is essential for enhancing well-being.

Looking forward

To maintain leadership in global happiness indices, Israel aims to bolster its innate strengths of resilience, social support, and the ability to endure and rebound from crises, while addressing issues of public trust and emotional health to sustain its population’s robustness.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.