World's happiest city

In 2020, we set the ambitious goal of becoming the happiest city in the world. Happiness was established as a strategic goal, shaping the development of city services and daily life. In collaboration with happiness researcher Markku Ojanen, Vaasa outlined concrete steps to enhance well-being and community spirit, including introducing annual surveys to measure happiness.

In May 2021, we set out to find the happiest person in the world. The ideal candidate was someone from the Vaasa region who radiated positivity, experienced feelings of satisfaction, meaning, and joy, and inspired happiness in others. Out of 115 nominees, three finalists were featured in a video series by Maria Veitola. The winner, Sebastian Da Costa, was chosen by a public vote and announced during the Happiness Evening at Strömsö.

Happiness isn’t just about success. Our 2022 Summer Failure Campaign highlighted that failure is a natural and valuable part of life in Vaasa. At its best, failure offers opportunities to learn, grow, and see things from new perspectives. Residents shared their stories of setbacks in a contest, with the most memorable ones celebrated on social media. The best entries were rewarded, showing that true happiness is often found in life’s imperfect moments.

The rising stress among young people over the pressures of working life has become a growing concern. In 2023, Vaasa promoted workplace cultures where all emotions are valued, and failures are seen as opportunities. Safe work environments support vulnerability and encourage celebrating success. A recruitment campaign led by the City of Vaasa, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, and local employers focused on emotional skills and expression in the workplace—because true happiness comes from the freedom to feel.

In 2023–2024, the City of Vaasa launched ‘A Year of Good Deeds’ to enhance happiness and spark discussions on the power of kindness. Residents, companies, and communities were invited to take part by performing good deeds, which were tracked through an online counter. The total grew throughout the year, highlighting the collective impact of these acts.

The ‘Talk to Someone New‘ campaign builds on Vaasa’s commitment to fostering good deeds by encouraging residents to connect with unfamiliar faces. A friendly greeting, a quick exchange in a checkout line, or meeting someone new at an event—all of these small moments create meaningful interactions that spread happiness. The campaign aims to show how even the smallest gestures can have a lasting impact.