Finland retains its title as the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, while India improves its ranking to 118, still behind conflict-affected nations. Nordic countries occupy the top spots based on self-reported happiness metrics. The U.S. has plummeted to 24th place, marking its lowest in history, and concerns over young adults lacking social support rise sharply.
Finland has once again been recognized as the happiest country in the world, achieving this status for the eighth consecutive year as per the World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 19. Meanwhile, India has shown slight improvement in its happiness ranking, moving from 126 in 2024 to 118 this year. Nevertheless, India is reported to be less happy than various conflict-impacted nations, including Ukraine, Mozambique, and Iraq.
The annual happiness rankings continue to feature Nordic countries prominently. Following Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden occupy the top four positions respectively. The rankings are based on citizens’ self-evaluations of their lives, as developed through a collaboration of the analytics firm Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, stated, “Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth — it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back.” He emphasized the importance of investing in community and interpersonal relationships to foster stronger societies and economies.
Key factors contributing to happiness include simple yet significant elements such as sharing meals, having reliable social support, and household size. For instance, a household size of four to five individuals correlates with higher happiness levels in Mexico and Europe. The report also highlights that belief in the kindness of others is a significant contributor to happiness, with countries like the Nordic nations showcasing higher rates of lost wallet returns than anticipated.
Despite European countries dominating the top rankings, some notable exceptions exist. Israel is ranked 8th despite ongoing conflict, and Costa Rica and Mexico have entered the top 10 for the first time, occupying the 6th and 10th positions, respectively. Conversely, the United States has fallen to its lowest happiness ranking ever at 24th, a drop from its previous peak of 11th place in 2012. This decline correlates with a significant increase in solo dining among Americans over the last two decades.
The United Kingdom is also witnessing a decline in happiness, now at 23rd place, marking its lowest average life evaluation since the 2017 report. On the contrary, Afghanistan remains the unhappiest country globally, with women reporting particularly challenging circumstances, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon respectively.
The report identifies a troubling trend where 19% of young adults worldwide expressed lacking social support, reflecting a 39% increase since 2006. The rankings are based on self-assessed life evaluations averaged over the years 2022 to 2024, with variations explained through various factors such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
The World Happiness Report 2025 highlights Finland as the happiest country for the eighth year while showcasing India’s relative unhappiness ranking. Nordic countries dominate the top spots, emphasizing factors such as social connections and community trust. Deteriorating happiness levels in the U.S. and U.K. raise concerns about social support among young adults globally. As we analyze the happiness dynamics, investing in community and interpersonal relationships emerges as a crucial pathway for improvement.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
