However, the report presents a more nuanced picture when we dive deeper into certain other measures. On page 25, which examines country rankings for six indicators of benevolence, Finland's position in the "Donated" criterion stands at a surprising 39th place—ranking below several countries with lower income levels. Additionally, in the "Helped a stranger" category, Finland appears much further down the list, at a rank of 96, which seems at odds with its reputation for general well-being and happiness. Moreover, on page 163, the report includes an unsettling image that highlights deaths of despair. Finland's position in this context is far less optimistic, revealing that not all aspects of Finnish life are as rosy as the overall happiness ranking suggests (refer to the image above).
By an interesting coincidence, Finland also happens to be the foreign country with the highest proportion of visitors per million inhabitants to this blog. While the Netherlands and Austria take second and third places, respectively, Finland's visitor ratio is notably higher—an impressive 230% above the Netherlands and 300% higher than Austria.
PS - The latest edition of The Economist spotlights "How to Enhance Humans," exploring our relentless quest for superior physical and cognitive abilities. Yet, this framing feels disappointingly narrow. True human enhancement isn’t just about sharper minds or stronger bodies—it’s about expanding the depth of our generosity, the reach of our compassion, and the strength of our kindness. What if we pursued not just intelligence, but wisdom? Not just longevity, but purpose? https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/03/20/how-to-enhance-humans
