Kumar Bahukhandi
Happiness Index – Photo: adobe stock
World Happiness Report: According to the World Happiness Report 2025 published by the Wellbeing Research Centre, Oxford University, happiness is not determined only by economic development, but mutual trust and social bonding among people also play a big role in it. In this report, Finland has been considered the happiest country in the world for the eighth time in a row. Let us know what is in the report on India, Pakistan and America.
Finland has become the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive time. India has got 118th place in this ranking of 147 countries. Last year India was at number 126 in this ranking. In this way, India’s ranking has improved by eight places. However, the surprising thing is that this time also Pakistan has beaten India in this list. Pakistan has got 109th ranking in the Happiness Index.
According to the World Happiness Report 2025 published by the Wellbeing Research Center, Oxford University, happiness is not determined only by economic development, but mutual trust and social engagement of people also play a big role in it. According to the report, other Nordic countries are also once again at the top of the happiness ranking. Apart from Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden remain in the top four and in this order. The ranking of countries was based on the answers given by people when they were asked to rate their own lives. The study was conducted in partnership with analytics firm Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Also read: IPL 2025: ‘Many big cricketers including Pant consider Dhoni as their idol’, veteran Zaheer Khan reveals, said- Mahi’s charm…
Gallup CEO John Clifton said, “Happiness is not just about wealth or growth – it is about trust, relationships and knowing whether people are supporting you or not.” He said, “If we want strong communities and economies, we must invest in what really matters, that is, in each other.
Which countries dominate the Happiness Index, which lag behind?
The US has reached its lowest ever position in the ranking of happy people. The top 20 in the ranking is dominated by European countries, but there are some exceptions. Despite the war with Hamas, Israel is in eighth place. Costa Rica and Mexico have entered the top 10 of happy countries for the first time, ranking sixth and 10th respectively. The US has reached its lowest ever position of 24th in this ranking. Earlier in 2012, it was in 11th place.
The report says that the number of people eating alone in the US has increased by 53 percent in the last two decades. The United Kingdom is at 23rd place in the list. Afghanistan has been described as the world’s most unhappy country in this ranking. Afghan women say that their life is particularly difficult Sierra Leone is the second unhappiest country in West Africa, followed by Lebanon, which is third from the bottom.
The 20 happiest countries in the world
Finland
Denmark
Iceland
Sweden
Netherlands
Costa Rica
Norway
Israel
Luxembourg
Mexico
Australia
New Zealand
Switzerland
Belgium
Ireland
Lithuania
Austria
Canada
Slovenia
Czech Republic
Worst rankings in the Happiness Index
Afghanistan (No. 147) is once again at the bottom of the list. Sierra Leone (No. 146), Lebanon (No. 145), Malawi (No. 144) and Zimbabwe (No. 143) are among the bottom five countries in terms of happiness.
What affects a person’s happiness besides money?
Apart from health and wealth, some of the factors that affect happiness seem deceptively simple, researchers say. According to the report, sharing meals with others, relying on someone for social support and family size affect your happiness. For example, in Mexico and Europe, families of four to five people are at the highest level of happiness. According to the findings, believing in the kindness of others is also more closely linked to happiness now than ever before.
For example, the report shows that people who strongly believe that others will be willing to return their lost wallet are a strong factor in the overall happiness of a population. The study found that the number of people who believe so is highest in the Nordic country.
According to the report, almost one in five young adults around the world does not get any social help. The study says that the worrying thing is that in 2023, 19 percent of young adults around the world reported that they did not have anyone they could rely on for social support. This is 39 percent more than in 2006. To prepare this report, all countries have been ranked according to the average of their self-rated life during 2022 to 2024.
Experts from economics, psychology, sociology and other fields try to explain the changes that occur in different countries and over time using factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, ability to trust someone, sense of freedom, generosity and perception of corruption.
This funda was told to keep yourself happy – think new, live new!
The biggest message of this report is- happiness does not come only from property or job. It also depends on how trustworthy and supportive we make our society. So the next time you sit and eat with your family, help a friend, or trust a stranger – understand, you are adding a brick to the happiness of your country.
