What other countries are getting right that America just can’t seem to figure out.

The United States loves to brag about being the greatest country in the world, but there’s one list it can’t seem to crack—the happiest countries ranking. Year after year, America falls short while smaller, quieter nations claim the top spots. You’d think all that wealth, freedom, and opportunity would translate into more smiles and satisfaction, but the reality is a lot more complicated. It’s not like Americans don’t want to be happy; we’re obsessed with it. Yet something is clearly standing in the way.
What’s really keeping the U.S. off the world’s happiness leaderboard? The answers aren’t just surprising—they’re downright painful. Some of them are so deeply ingrained in American culture that we barely notice them. But once you see what’s truly going on, it’s hard to ignore. And it just might make you rethink everything you thought you knew about the American way of life.