International Day of Happiness 2025
- Alessandro Poffa
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Every year on March 20th, the world celebrates the International Day of Happiness, a United Nations initiative established in 2012 to recognize the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental human right. As we mark this important day in 2025, Italy has embraced its significance with numerous initiatives aimed at improving well-being both in schools and workplaces, reflecting a growing understanding that happiness is not merely a personal matter but a crucial factor in social and economic development.
Article contents:
The International Day of Happiness: Origins and Meaning
The International Day of Happiness was established by the United Nations General Assembly on June 28, 2012, with resolution A/RES/66/281, and is celebrated every year on March 20. The choice of this date is not random, as it coincides with the spring equinox, a universal symbol of rebirth and renewal. The main objective of this observance is to recognize happiness as a fundamental human right and promote public policies that integrate people's well-being, sustainable development, and social equity in a holistic approach to human progress.
The Connection with the Workplace
The link between Happiness Day and the professional sphere is particularly significant. The World Happiness Report, published annually to coincide with this day, highlights how social capital and the quality of relationships in the work environment directly influence productivity and personal satisfaction. In Italy, recent years have seen a worrying deterioration in work motivation indices, with an 18% decrease since 2020, accompanied by an increase in mental disorders related to professional stress. These data have made structured intervention on these issues a priority, recognizing that workplace well-being is not just a matter of social responsibility but also a determining factor for economic sustainability.
Italian Initiatives for 2025
For 2025, Italy has scheduled several significant initiatives, among which the Happiness On Tour project at the Assago Forum (Milan) stands out. This event involved 20,000 participants, divided between 10,000 students in the morning session and 10,000 adults in the evening session. The program included workshops on stress management, and strategies to counter bullying and digital addictions, with interventions by prominent figures such as Walter Rolfo, creator of the event, Paolo Borzachiello, Oscar Farinetti, and many others. The initiative is part of a two-year training program already launched in 150 Italian schools, which has involved approximately 120,000 students so far, demonstrating a long-term commitment to well-being education.
Collaborations and Educational Projects
The Happiness On Tour event was organized by the Happiness Foundation ETS in collaboration with the Italian Institute for Positive Organizations, integrating practical tools to improve the company climate and employee well-being. In parallel, the mini-series "HappinUS" was launched with the aim of disseminating scientific methodologies that can be easily applied in the workplace. These initiatives represent a concrete bridge between theory and practice, offering companies and educational institutions tangible resources to implement effective and measurable well-being policies.
Statistical Data and Future Perspectives
The World Happiness Report 2025, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University, confirms Finland as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. Nordic countries dominate the top positions in the ranking, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden completing the quartet of the happiest countries. Two new entries in the top 10 are Costa Rica and Mexico, ranking 6th and 10th respectively, with Mexico making a jump of 15 positions compared to the previous year. Italy ranks 40th, gaining one position compared to last year, while the United States has fallen to 24th position, the lowest in its history. In Asia, Taiwan emerges as the happiest country, ranking 27th globally and surpassing Singapore. The report highlights how happiness does not depend exclusively on wealth or economic growth, but also on factors such as mutual trust, social connections, and emotional support. Particularly significant is the finding that 19% of young adults worldwide have no one to turn to for emotional support, signaling growing loneliness globally. The research also emphasizes that simple activities like sharing a meal have an impact on well-being comparable to that of income and occupational status. At the opposite end of the ranking, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and Lebanon occupy the last three places, confirming how situations of conflict and instability negatively affect the perception of happiness.