Discover the happiest country in the world for generation Z: Lithuania
Young people in Lithuania believe that the hardships their ancestors endured taught them to appreciate every moment of the present and to find beauty in the simplest things.
It is known that the 2024 World Happiness Report published by the United Nations in March, Lithuania was named “the happiest country in the world for people under 30 years old (Gen Z)”.
Ammar Kandil and Staffan Taylor, two content creators from Yes Theory, a famous Canadian media channel, decided to visit the capital Vilnius to find out if this report is accurate or not. Upon landing in Vilnius, Ammar and Staffan began interacting with the locals. Most young people agree that their country is a great place to live thanks to “great food, friendly people, many career opportunities and a growing economy”.
Many of them mentioned that the difficulties faced by previous generations have taught today’s youth how to enjoy life in every moment and “find beauty in simple things.”
To attract more young people to share their views, Ammar and Staffan organized a meetup. At the event, attendees took turns expressing their views. One young man shared: “After a year of living in America, I appreciate life in Lithuania because of its connection to nature.” He added that visitors can easily access lakes or forests in Lithuania and enjoy breathtaking natural scenery. “Lithuania has never been better than it is now,” another young woman admitted.
Talking about happiness, a local person said that although young people in the country are “quite happy”, it does not mean that they do not face challenges and life pressures.
After the meeting, Ammar and Staffan spent the rest of the trip interacting with locals and visiting tourist sites such as the old Lukiškės Prison, now a cultural site, and the Hill of Crosses monument.
“This is one of the happiest travel experiences I’ve ever had,” Ammar, a seasoned world traveler, shared with the Yes Theory audience while attending the dinner party.
Steffan agrees and says that Lithuania is definitely one of the most open, generous and kind countries he has ever visited.
The video of two Canadian tourists attracted nearly a million views and comments after just a few days of posting. One person who studied in Vilnius as an exchange student shared that their time in Lithuania was the happiest time of their life. “Thank you Lithuania for welcoming me,” they said.
“Love, creativity and kindness can help us overcome our dark past, turn negativity into light and help others,” a local resident expressed after watching Ammar and Stefan.
