Finland - the happiest country that almost didn’t exist

Finland is a sub-arctic state with a Scotland-sized population, ports that are ice-locked for half the year and a precarious land border with Russia. Yet, it’s also the world’s happiest country for eight years running, with the best education system, food security, low levels of child poverty, high levels of income equality and trust – both in government and one another. Helsinki folk were more likely to hand in a dropped wallet than any other world capital. Not bad for a country that almost ceased to exist in the 20th century after famine, civil war and invasion. What explains their incredible transformation and are they ready for acts of Arctic aggression by Presidents Putin or Trump?  

This Finland documentary was filmed by Inverness born Gavin Hanigan who lives in Helsinki and co-produced by presenter Lesley Riddoch and Gavin. A similar film about Denmark made in 2024 has almost 2 million views online.

Trailer for Finland: The Happiest Country that almost never existed