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World Happiness Report 2025 reveals Finland at the top again, with the U.S. falling to 24th. World Happiness Report 2025 highlights economic stability, social support and mental well-being as key factors.
PWOnlyIAS
March 24, 2025
World Happiness Report 2025 is a comprehensive global study assessing happiness levels across countries based on various economic and social factors. Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), the report evaluates happiness rankings based on key indicators such as GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption perception.
Read on to explore the key findings of the World Happiness Report 2025, including India’s ranking, the top happiest countries, the most unhappy nations, and how happiness is measured globally.
The World Happiness Report is an annual study that ranks countries based on subjective well-being and objective social and economic indicators. First published in 2012, It aims to measure the overall happiness of people worldwide and highlight areas where improvements are needed. The rankings help policymakers assess societal well-being and implement strategies to improve citizens’ quality of life.
| World Happiness Report 2025 Overview | |
| Feature | Details |
| Report Name | World Happiness Report 2025 |
| Published By | UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Gallup, and Wellbeing Research Centre (Oxford) |
| First Published | 2012 |
| Ranking Criteria | GDP per capita, Social Support, Healthy Life Expectancy, Freedom to Make Life Choices, Generosity, Perception of Corruption |
| Happiest Country | Finland (Rank 1) |
| Most Unhappy Country | Afghanistan (Rank 147) |
| India’s Rank | 118 |
| Biggest Improvement | Mexico (Ranked 10th, up from 25th in 2023) |
| Biggest Decline | United States (Dropped to 24th from 23rd in 2023) |
| Happiest Country in Asia | Taiwan (Rank 27) |
| Survey Conducted By | Gallup World Poll |
| Data Collection Period | 2022-2024 (3-year average) |
The World Happiness Index, released by the Wellbeing Research Centre, Gallup, and UNSDSN, ranks countries based on six key parameters:
The data is collected from Gallup World Poll surveys, and rankings are determined based on a three-year rolling average of responses.
The World Happiness Report 2025 provides a detailed ranking of countries based on their happiness scores. These rankings highlight the happiest and unhappiest nations and help governments identify key areas that need improvement.
Nordic countries have consistently ranked as the happiest nations, with Finland securing the top position for the eighth consecutive year. The combination of strong social support, economic prosperity, and political stability makes these countries a model for happiness. Here are the top 10 happiest nations in 2025:
| Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World | ||
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score |
| 1 | Finland | 7.7 |
| 2 | Denmark | 7.5 |
| 3 | Iceland | 7.4 |
| 4 | Sweden | 7.3 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 7.2 |
| 6 | Costa Rica | 7.1 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 7.0 |
| 8 | Israel | 6.9 |
| 9 | Norway | 6.8 |
| 10 | Mexico | 6.7 |
In Asia, Taiwan has emerged as the happiest country, securing the 27th position globally. It has surpassed Singapore, which was traditionally seen as one of the most content nations in the region. Taiwan’s success is attributed to high levels of freedom, economic stability, and social trust among citizens.
Afghanistan continues to be the unhappiest country in the world, with a happiness score of 1.4. Ongoing conflict, political instability, and restrictions on freedom have contributed to its poor ranking. Despite international efforts to improve conditions, the country still struggles with severe economic and humanitarian crises.
| Bottom 5 Unhappiest Countries | ||
| Rank | Country | Happiness Score |
| 143 | Zimbabwe | 3.1 |
| 144 | Malawi | 2.9 |
| 145 | Lebanon | 2.7 |
| 146 | Sierra Leone | 2.5 |
| 147 | Afghanistan | 1.4 |
India has shown steady improvement over the last five years. In the World Happiness Report 2025, India is ranked 118th out of 147 countries, moving up from 126th place in 2023. The improvement is attributed to:
However, India still lags behind Pakistan (109th) and Nepal (92nd) due to lower social support and higher economic inequality.
| India’s Performance Over the Years | |
| Year | India’s Rank |
| 2019 | 144 |
| 2020 | 139 |
| 2021 | 136 |
| 2022 | 136 |
| 2023 | 126 |
| 2025 | 118 |
Improvements
Challenges
The World Happiness Report 2025 highlights the importance of happiness as a measure of a nation’s well-being. Countries that rank higher in happiness indices tend to have stronger economies, better public health systems, and higher levels of social trust. Additionally, happiness plays a crucial role in reducing crime rates, increasing productivity, and improving overall quality of life.
The World Happiness Report 2025 highlights the importance of economic stability, social trust, and personal freedom in determining national happiness levels. While Nordic countries continue to dominate the rankings, notable shifts have occurred in Latin America and Asia. India’s gradual improvement in the rankings is a positive sign, but challenges such as economic disparity and low social support still need to be addressed.
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