World Happiness Report 2025: India ranks 118th in World Happiness Report; Finland retains top spot
PTC Web Desk: India has been ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 20 by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board. For the seventh consecutive year, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark and Iceland. The report evaluates nations based on social, economic, and emotional well-being.
India’s lowest ranking in the report was 144th in 2012, while its best performance was in 2022 at 94th place. The six key factors determining happiness include social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perception of corruption.
India received high scores for social support, attributed to its community-driven culture, close-knit families, and strong societal bonds. However, it ranked lowest in terms of freedom, with many respondents feeling that their personal choices did not significantly improve their quality of life.
Among India's neighbours Sri Lanka ranked 133rd, Bangladesh ranked 134th, Pakistan ranked 109th, Nepal ranked 92nd and China ranked 68th.
Western nations dominated the top 20, with Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th) making it to the top 10 for the first time. Meanwhile, the United States dropped to 24th, its lowest ranking ever, due to rising loneliness and declining happiness levels. The United Kingdom also fell to 23rd, its worst position since 2017.
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranked last, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon, largely due to instability and deteriorating quality of life.
The 2025 report placed special emphasis on the role of “caring and sharing” in boosting overall happiness. Researchers examined how acts of kindness—such as donations and community support—impact not just the recipients but also those who give.
- With inputs from agencies
