The 2025 World Happiness Report ranks India at 118th among 147 countries, below its neighbors like Pakistan and Nepal. The report highlights the importance of social support and freedom in determining happiness, with Finland ranked as the happiest country. India’s fluctuating history in happiness rankings is noted, with its current status reflecting challenges in personal freedoms.
The 2025 World Happiness Report, released on March 20, ranks India at 118th among 147 countries. Compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford and Gallup in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, this report positions India below neighboring countries such as Pakistan (109), Nepal (92), and China (68). In contrast, it ranks Sri Lanka at 133 and Bangladesh at 134. Finland maintains its status as the happiest country, followed by Denmark and Iceland in the top three.
India’s ranking has fluctuated over the years, reaching an all-time low of 144 in 2012 and peaking at 94 in 2022. Six key factors contribute to these rankings: social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption perception. The latest report also includes analysis on the incidence of positive and negative emotions across countries.
India scored well in social support, benefiting from strong community ties and extended families. However, it received its lowest mark in freedom, indicating limitations in individuals’ perception of their choices and overall life satisfaction. Western nations dominate the higher ranks, but Costa Rica and Mexico have made notable improvements, breaking into the top 10 at 6th and 10th places respectively. The US fell to 24th, its lowest rank ever, and the UK dropped to 23rd, its lowest since 2017, attributed to rising unhappiness levels.
The 2025 World Happiness Report highlights India’s position as 118th out of 147 countries, showcasing challenges in freedom perception despite strong social support. Neighboring countries like Pakistan, Nepal, and China rank higher, while Finland, Denmark, and Iceland continue to be the happiest nations. Overall, the findings underscore the significant factors influencing happiness levels globally.
Original Source: www.timesnownews.com
