Which Country has the Most Thriving People at Work? The Top 3 are all Nordic Countries

According to the 2024 Global Workplace Situation Survey, about 34% of respondents are thriving at work, 58% of respondents feel like they are struggling at work, and 8% of respondents believe that they are suffering at work. The top three countries with the highest proportion of people who feel they are energetic at work are Finland, Denmark and Iceland.

Washington, D.C. (Merxwire) – According to the Gallup World Poll’s survey report on the current situation of the world’s workplace in 2024, about 34% of the respondents feel thriving at work, 58% of the respondents feel struggled at work, and 8% of the respondents feel suffering while working. The top three countries with the highest proportion of people who believe they are energetic at work are all from Nordic countries. Ranking first is Finland, with a proportion of 83%. Denmark ranks second with a ratio of 77%. The third place is Iceland, where 76% of the respondents are full of energy when working.

This report is a survey of more than 128,000 adult active workers in more than 160 countries and regions around the world. The main purpose is to understand workers’ mental health and work engagement. The countries with the highest proportion of workers feeling energetic at work are Finland, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Israel, Norway, Costa Rica, Belgium and Australia, with more than 60% of workers feeling thriving at work.

Among the top 10 countries, there are seven located in Europe. It can be seen that Europeans pay more attention to enjoy the fun of work. In addition, Europe has the lowest proportion of workers who are “searching or actively looking for a new job” and the second-lowest proportion of workers who “suffer from sadness every day.” Studies have also found that people who feel thriving at work have fewer health problems and negative emotions, and are more likely to remain happy, hopeful, interested in the things around them, and respectful of each other.

The Nordic region has the highest proportion of countries that maintain a high level of energy at work, with five countries on the list. This has a lot to do with the Nordic people’s outlook on life and work. First of all, Nordic people value maintaining a balanced relationship between life and work, so they will work actively and conscientiously within limited working hours. After work, they can enjoy family life and get ample rest time. When they return to work, they feel energetic. At the same time, Nordic people are less hierarchical at work, emphasize equality and smooth communication, and are willing to try and accept failure, so that they are always full of happy and positive emotions at work.

Compared with Europe, workers in Asia have a significantly higher proportion of workers who feel struggling and suffering at work, indicating that they are less happy and less energetic at work, and often feel tired. In Asia, the top three countries with the highest proportion of people feeling energetic at work are Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore, with proportions of 51%, 41% and 39% respectively. The fourth to tenth places are Thailand, Philippines, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Mongolia. The proportion of people who are energetic at work ranges from 29% to 37%. There is indeed room for improvement.

This survey combines the subject’s current situation, overall life evaluation, and prospects. It is not only limited to the work level but also affects the subject’s mood and life attitude. In addition to being healthier, people who are energetic at work feel less negative emotions such as stress, worry, loneliness, sadness, and anger, and are more often in positive emotions. Therefore, if the management can try their best to create a positive working environment, improve employees’ perceptions of work, and maintain good working conditions, it will be a win-win situation for both employers and employees.