For an impressive eighth year in a row, Finland has secured its position as the world’s happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report 2025. The study was done in partnership with the analytics firm, Gallup, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The rankings were based on answers people gave when asked to rate their own lives. Speaking to the Express, the CEO of HappyOrNot, proud Finn Miika Mäkitalo, has given an insight into what life is like in Finland and how his countrymen managed to stay so positive, even during the long, dark and cold winter months. Miika, 47, has lived his whole life in Finland but has spent the last 15 years working with international businesses and travelling the world, including in the US.

Luckily for residents, Finnish society, the systems in place and their neighbours can be trusted, on the whole, Miika explained. It has a universal and publicly funded healthcare system and generous unemployment benefits and parental leave. 

But what do residents do themselves to maintain their positive spirit, especially during the cold months? 

The Finnish concept of “sisu” helps people navigate life’s challenges, Miika explained. While often translated as "grit," "tenacity," or "bravery," "sisu" is a unique concept that is deeply ingrained in Finnish culture. It represents an ability to push through challenges and maintain composure, even in difficult situations. 

“The winters are long, cold and dark and one has to have sisu to pull through. It’s a bit like the British saying, ‘keep calm and carry on’. That mentality that, ‘hey, let’s not be miserable with the things we can’t control, but what we have at hand and what we can do. Let’s pull through’”.

Finnish winters are characterized by cold temperatures, long dark nights and abundant snow, especially in the north. Temperatures in Lapland and eastern Finland can potentially drop to -45C to -50C. 

In the dead of winter in Helsinki, the sun shines for four, maybe five hours a day. In northern Lapland, the sun does not rise at all during the beginning of January, a period known as "kaamos". 

Miika explained that when you have the chance to spend time with the family, with the kids, it simply does not matter that it is dark outside. Going to a sauna is a favourite option for his family.

“It’s so fun warming up in the sauna when it’s dark, then coming out of the sauna in your swimwear and swimming in the snow, like a snow plunge” he smiled. “Then going back into the sauna.”

As an avid runner, Miika said he doesn’t particularly enjoy running in the cold, “but it’s better than nothing. It’s all about layers and having enough clothes.”

Finns also make the most of the sports available, including ice hockey and skiing: “While one might assume that in winter [it’s the time for] fires in the fireplace and behind a blanket, no, this is the season when we can really enjoy our winter sports.”

“When we have kids, they have layers and clothes for any weather. It’s part of life - you enjoy what’s out there regardless of the temperature.”

When he speaks to students and young people, Miika always tells them to pursue their own dreams - not those of their parents or grandparents: “The worklife is way too long to do something one dislikes.”