The World Happiness Report 2025 was released 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.

• Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Iceland.
• The report evaluates social, economic, and emotional well-being factors.

Key Findings of the World Happiness Report 2025

• Top 10 Happiest Countries: Finland (1), Denmark (2), Iceland (3), Sweden (4), Netherlands (5), Costa Rica (6), Norway (7), Israel (8), Luxembourg (9), Mexico (10).
• Bottom 5 Countries: Zimbabwe (143), Malawi (144), Lebanon (145), Sierra Leone (146), Afghanistan (147 – Unhappiest country for the fourth consecutive year)
• Notable Changes
• • Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th) entered the top 10 for the first time.
  • The US recorded its lowest rank (24th), citing rising social isolation as a key factor.
  • The UK ranked 23rd, its lowest position since 2017.

About World Happiness Index

• It is a global ranking of happiness based on self-reported life evaluations from Gallup surveys.
• Origin : It was published for the first time  in 2012.
• Publisher: Released annually by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• Criteria for Ranking: The index ranks countries based on six key factors:
  • GDP per capita (economic prosperity)
  • Social support (sense of community and trust)
  • Healthy life expectancy
  • Freedom to make life choices
  • Generosity (charitable activities)
  • Perception of corruption (trust in governance)

India’s Position and Reasons for Poor Performance

India’s Ranking

• India ranked 118th out of 147 countries, improving from 126th in 2024.
• Lowest-ever ranking: 144th in 2012.
• Best rank: 94th in 2022.
• Ranks below Pakistan (109th) and Nepal (92nd), despite strong economic growth.

Reasons for India’s Low Rank

• Lower Social Support: Despite economic growth, weaker community ties and social trust impact happiness levels.
• High Economic Inequality: Wealth disparity affects the perceived well-being of citizens.
• Perception of Corruption: Trust in government institutions remains low.
• Mental Health Concerns: Work stress, lack of work-life balance, and rising mental health issues contribute to lower happiness scores.
• Quality of Life Differences: Higher rankings for Pakistan and Nepal are attributed to stronger community support and better social trust metrics.

Key Takeaways from the report

• Happiness is influenced more by social support, trust, and well-being rather than just economic growth.
• Investing in mental health, social trust, and community welfare is crucial to improving rankings.
• Countries with strong social connections, low corruption, and a balanced lifestyle tend to rank higher in happiness.