JNS
Against all odds: The psychology behind Israelis’ happiness
Rachel O’Donoghue
March 27, 2025

Israelis shouldn’t be happy. They are in the midst of a grueling war with Hamas that has stretched on for a year and a half. They live with grief and anxiety over hostages still held by the terrorist group and IDF soldiers battling Israel’s enemies on multiple fronts. Their economy—particularly the tourism and tech sectors—has taken a hit. They face global diplomatic isolation beneath the shadow of an existential threat. By any reasonable measure, one might assume that Israelis have little to be happy about. And yet, they are. Once again, Israel has ranked among the happiest countries in the world. According to the newly released 2025 World Happiness Report, Israel placed eighth globally—just behind Sweden and ahead of Luxembourg, Australia and the United States. READ MORE