
On paper at least, there is no way the Finns should be declared as the happiest people in the world - and for the seventh year in a row. There are almost six months of winter here, with at least two of those months having long hours of darkness. As if that weren’t bad enough, they pay very high rates of income tax in comparison to other countries.
In comparison, Ireland has fallen from 13th to 17th place in the rankings of the annual World Happiness Report. How then do the Finns remain so happy?
Having moved here from Ireland a number of months ago, and currently surviving our first winter here, I will give you my very biased insights on three of the main reasons I have observed.
Firstly, my instinct is that you don’t mind paying high taxes if you can clearly see the money you hand over to the government is being put to good use and is benefitting all. In this respect, the education system here is excellent. Since the 1990s, Finnish students consistently score very highly on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) rankings.
I was on secondment to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) as a Director in Primary education from 2008 to 2010. During those years (and I’m sure since then), I noticed there were educational pilgrimages to Finland from Ireland by educators, teacher educators and education officials to explore why it performs so well. My views on that will be the subject of another blog post. For the purposes of discussing happiness, I suggest it makes people very happy to be able to attend top-class schools and (generally) to be allowed pursue up to a Master’s degree in Finland without paying tuition fees.
As a result of its excellent education system, Finnish adults were ranked by the OECD as having exceptionally high literacy, numeracy and adaptive problem-solving skills in the 2023 report for the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). I would further venture to suggest that an educated society makes educated and wise choices with regard to its resources, both its natural and its human resources. Finnish society also has trust in its public officials and its government and there is a perceived lack of corruption here.
Secondly, the Finns pride themselves on never being more than a 10-minute walk from a park or a forest or a lake. It is well-documented that access to nature offers wonderful opportunities for relaxation and recreation and contributes greatly to happiness and well-being. We live in a relatively new suburb in Espoo, about 20 minutes by Metro to the centre of Helsinki. When I leave our building for my daily walk, within about three minutes I pass by the free public skating-rink which, since November, is always in use. Children are often learning to skate during the day and families are skating together after school and work. I tried my hand (legs? feet?) at skating a number of years ago in a (not for free) very wet skating rink in Smithfield in Dublin. I spent most of the hour hanging on to the railing at the side or sat on the cold and wet ice, so I need to build myself up to try again!
Within about five minutes, I can access a forest-type walk that leads to a big park with a lake, allotments and community gardens. Or I can go a little further and walk to the shore of an inlet of the Baltic Sea and a sheltered harbour there. Within a 30-minute drive of us, there are a number of ski areas (limited downhill but plenty cross-country) and some golf courses. They are closed at the moment, but in the nearby shopping centre there are not one, not two, but three indoor golf simulation places, so I have no excuse but to practise my golf swing while I am here.
Thirdly, the Finns have the same attitude as my late mother when she used to declare that there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. I remember her wrapping me in a warm raincoat, waterproof hat and gloves when I was about seven and sending me off out on my tricycle to cycle up and down Main Street in Killarney to get me out from under her feet. Similarly, the Finns do not allow inclement weather to deter them from getting outside to walk, jog, skate, ski and even swim. Toddlers are wrapped up in onesie-type snow suits and are outdoors in all weathers with the rest of the family. And, of course, the Finnish people would say that their regular visits to the sauna offers them down-time and relaxation also.
Sisu is a Finnish word variously translated as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery, resilience, and hardiness. It is held by Finns to express their national character. But a Finnish word I love even more is Kalsarikännit. It’s when you and have no intention of going out and are going to get drunk home alone in your underwear. No wonder the Finns are happy!
I wonder would it catch on in Ireland?

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Great post! It’s inspiring to see how Finns find happiness in little things.
What a contrast to our current experience in the US right now!
Seems like a dream society.
Great read Kathryn. Didn’t realise you were going native for a few months! Enjoy. Sounds like a lovely lifestyle. See you when you’re home. ☕️🏌️♀️🌞
Interesting. I must agree, if you can see and benefit from your tax dollars, even if they are high, then you can see the system works. Great read. Thank you.