Home / Lifestyle / Hawaii Reigns Supreme, Nebraska Leaps to 3rd in 2025 Happiness Rankings
Hawaii Reigns Supreme, Nebraska Leaps to 3rd in 2025 Happiness Rankings
8 Sep
Summary
- Hawaii ranked #1 with low depression, high life satisfaction
- Maryland came in 2nd with low unemployment, high earnings
- Nebraska jumped from 9th to 3rd, boosted by economic security and leisure time
According to a 2025 report released by personal-finance website WalletHub, Hawaii has emerged as the happiest state in the nation. The state boasts the second-lowest depression rate and the highest self-reported life satisfaction, with nearly 85% of adults reporting good or better physical health and the longest life expectancy in the U.S.
Maryland came in second place, supported by one of the lowest unemployment rates at 3.2% and the highest percentage of households earning above $75,000. The state also reported the third-highest rate of people who feel motivated and satisfied with their work.
Nebraska, meanwhile, made a notable leap in the rankings, rising from 9th place in the previous year to 3rd in 2025. This was largely due to the state's second-highest level of economic security and the sixth-lowest depression rate. Despite longer work hours, Nebraskans enjoy the most leisure time of any state and have one of the lowest divorce and separation rates.
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The report's findings come at a time when a separate survey earlier this year found that just 44% of Americans were "very satisfied" with their personal lives, the lowest number since 2001.
