Kosovo is ranked as the 16th happiest country in the world, according to the annual report measuring global happiness, making it the top-ranked country in the region.

Neighboring countries remain behind. Albania is ranked 86th, North Macedonia 82nd, Montenegro 60th, and Serbia 30th.

For the ninth consecutive year, Finland holds the top spot, while other Nordic countries (Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) are also in the top 10, KosovaPress reports.

The report, developed by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, suggests that heavy social media use, particularly in some countries, provides an important part of the explanation. However, this does not mean that social media use alone explains the decline in happiness in these regions, as other factors also play a role.

The study used indicators such as economic factors, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

Heavy social media use is causing a significant decline in well-being among young people, especially teenage girls in English-speaking countries and Western Europe, according to the 2026 World Happiness Report.

No English-speaking countries are in the top 10 this year: the United States is 23rd, Canada 25th, and the United Kingdom 29th. The report comes as many countries are considering restrictions on social media use for minors.