Canadian contentment wanes as global wellbeing divide grows
Canada has long prided itself on being one of the world's more contented nations. But according to the newly released State of the Global Workplace 2025 report by Gallup, the country's sense of wellbeing is slipping—especially when compared to the Nordic nations that continue to top global happiness charts.
Gallup’s “life evaluation” metric—measuring how people rate their lives now and five years into the future—shows a troubling dip in Canada. Just 52 per cent of Canadian respondents now describe themselves as “thriving,” a marked drop from previous years and a sharp contrast to nations like Finland (83%), Denmark (79%), and Iceland (78%).
While Canada still outpaces several large economies, it lags behind countries with smaller populations and robust social support systems. Notably, it falls behind Australia (60%) and barely ahead of the United States (53%)—both grappling with similar economic and workplace challenges.
Gallup’s data suggests that Canadians, much like their American neighbours, are battling high stress. Half of all respondents reported feeling stress “a lot of the previous day,” a figure that aligns Canada with the most anxious workforce in the world.
This strain is most visible among managers and younger workers, where declining engagement and lower perceived life satisfaction point to a growing wellbeing crisis.
“Stress and burnout are no longer confined to high-stakes industries,” the report notes. “They’ve become defining features of the North American workplace.”
The roots of the decline are complex, but economic pressures, especially the rising cost of housing and inflation, play a prominent role. Analysts also cite weakening trust in institutions, increased job insecurity, and shifting societal expectations as compounding factors.
For Canadian employers and HR leaders, the findings serve as a call to action.
Below is a look at how Canada compares with other countries in terms of reported life satisfaction. Nordic countries continue to dominate, while emerging markets and geopolitical hotspots struggle to break through.
As Canadian leaders grapple with hybrid work, AI transitions, and evolving workforce expectations, the Gallup findings offer more than a wake-up call—they provide a roadmap. The question isn’t whether Canada can remain among the world’s most satisfied populations.
It’s whether we’re willing to redesign work and leadership before the slide becomes a spiral.
