The World Happiness Report (WHR) 2025 was published on World Happiness Day (20th March).

About World Happiness Report and its Key Findings

• Report: Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN).
• Top Performers: Finland, along with other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden), consistently ranks at the top.
• India vs. Pakistan: Pakistan ranks 109th, while India ranks 118th, a performance described as “worse” than Pakistan’s.
• Economic Paradox: India’s economy, valued at 3.7 trillion USD—about ten times larger than Pakistan’s 375 billion USD—is booming in digital and physical infrastructure, yet reports indicate Pakistan’s population reports higher happiness levels.
• India’s Score: India scored 4.389 out of 10 on happiness, highlighting that the disparity is driven more by psychological factors than economic strength.
• Methodology: The WHR relies on the Gallup World Poll and uses the Cantril Ladder, a tool where 0 represents the worst possible life and 10 the best, to assess life satisfaction and help set targets for improvement.
• Six Pillars: The ranking is based on six key pillars: GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption perception.

Limitations of the Happiness Measurement Framework

• Subjective Nature of the Index: Relies on self-reported life satisfaction, making cross-country comparisons more reflective of perceptions than objective wellbeing.
• Dependence on Limited Variables: GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption perception dictate the final score, potentially overlooking other crucial determinants of happiness.
• Perception and Reporting Bias: Responses may be influenced by social, cultural, or political pressures, leading to underreporting or overreporting of actual wellbeing.

Sociocultural Factors Affecting Happiness

• Rising Aspirations: Open societies like India have high expectations and public scrutiny, lowering perceived satisfaction; closed or low-expectation societies may report higher happiness.
• Media Scrutiny: Free discussion of problems in democracies can reduce reported satisfaction.
• Adaptation to Hardship: Populations in low-expectation societies adjust mentally to constraints, inflating reported wellbeing.

Reasons For Nordic Countries To Dominate 

• High Institutional and Social Trust: Countries like Finland have strong trust, low inequality, and reliable welfare systems, leading to stable high life satisfaction.
• Strong Welfare Nets: Universal healthcare, education, and income support reduce stress and enhance wellbeing.
• Low Inequality: Equitable services foster fairness and collective happiness.

India’s Happiness Trends

• Fluctuating Rank: India’s rank has ranged from 94 to 144, reflecting political moods, crises, or welfare boosts, showing happiness is sensitive to short-term emotions rather than long-term growth.
• Higher Scores During Welfare Pushes: Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) post-COVID boosted citizen confidence.
• Sharp Declines During Scandals or Slowdowns: Events such as the 2012 corruption wave depressed public sentiment.
• Happiness Not Directly Linked to GDP: Trust, fairness, and community bonds influence scores more than economic strength.

Core Challenges for India

• Shrinking Social Networks: Rapid urbanisation, migration, and digital lifestyles weaken social bonds, reducing perceived support.
• Uneven Governance: Variable service delivery fosters negative perceptions of the state.
• WEIRD Bias: The framework emphasizes Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) norms, privileging institutional trust typical of individualistic societies, while overlooking collective trust networks like family and community, which are central in India.

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Way Forward

• Rebuild Social Capital: Strengthen emotional bonds by connecting people with friends and community; currently, 19% of Indian youth lack a reliable confidant, making real-world networks essential.
• Build Institutional Trust: Simplify government-citizen interactions and ensure transparent public services to enhance trust in institutions.
• Mental Health Support: Expand mental health programmes like Tele-MANAS and Mind India to improve emotional resilience; WHO data shows every $1 invested in mental health yields a 4x economic return, boosting national productivity.

Conclusion

As “The Pursuit of Happyness” reminds us, happiness is pursued, not possessed. India’s rank 118 reflects ambition and ongoing striving for cleaner air, fairer governance, and fuller lives, showing the nation is unfinished, not unhappy.

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