Once again, Paraguay stands out for its high level of happiness! The country ranks second globally, among the happiest countries, for emotional well-being, according to Gallup’s State of the World 2025 report. Gallup is an American multinational research and consulting company, known for its global public opinion polls.
Based on interviews in 144 countries, Paraguay was second only to Denmark. 92% of adults in Paraguay said they enjoyed most of the previous day, according to the study. The country’s performance in this field represents a continuous increase in happiness and personal satisfaction. These continue to grow, and draw international attention.
Happiest country in the region
The State of the World 2025 study conducted by the American company measures both positive and negative experiences. Positive ones include laughter, enjoyment, and mutual respect, while negative ones include worry, anger, and physical pain. For Paraguay, the high score result is not new: the country has consistently remained near the top of Gallup’s ranking over the past decade.
Latin America continues to be one of the most expressive and positive regions in the world. With Paraguay being among the happiest countries, leading with 92%, Mexico follows with 90%. Guatemala and Panama share the high percentage spot with 88%, while Costa Rica (87%) and Chile (86%) also rank among the top ten nations for daily positive experiences.
A happy way of living
In Paraguay, people find happiness in the simplest moments: drinking tereré in the shade, sharing empanadas, or having an asado (barbecue) with friends or family. Paraguayans tend to greet not only their neighbours and acquaintances with warmth, but also everyone they meet on the street. Beyond statistics, the sense of community, respect, and optimism remains at the heart of daily life.
Gallup’s report suggests that these emotional strengths and cultural expressions are deeply rooted in social habits. Paraguay’s wellbeing is sustained by strong family ties, solidarity, and collective resilience. These qualities help Paraguayans face difficulties with humour and hope.
Even in times of uncertainty, Paraguayans tend to find reasons to smile, move forward, and support one another. The combination of these cultural practices with the typically calm Paraguayan temperament contributes to an emotional stability that few countries can match, a quality explored further in The Asunción Times article on What makes Paraguay hospitality so genuinely authentic?
Happiness beyond economics
Every day emotions act as a kind of emotional thermometer, according to Gallup. Higher levels of anger and sadness are often linked with greater violence and institutional fragility. While enjoyment, laughter, and respect strengthen community bonds and social trust.
In Paraguay, that sense of connection, closeness, and shared optimism continues to sustain emotional well-being that goes far beyond economic indicators. Once again, the country’s culture of joy and respect has placed it among the world’s happiest, proving that well-being is not measured by wealth, but by how people live, relate, and care for one another every single day.
