Font size:
Print
India’s Happiness Ranking
Context:
India has made notable progress in its global happiness ranking, as per the World Happiness Report 2025.
More about the Findings
- The country’s happiness score increased from 4.054 out of 10 in the 2021-23 period to 4.389 in 2022-24.
- This improvement also led to a rise in India’s ranking from 126th among 143 countries to 118th among 147 nations.
- Meanwhile, Pakistan, despite facing economic struggles, has outperformed India in terms of happiness scores.
- Pakistan’s score saw an improvement from 4.657 to 4.768 during the same period. However, its global ranking dropped slightly from 108th to 109th.
- Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year.
- Following Finland in the rankings are Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands, all of which benefit from high living standards and robust social support networks.
- Notably, Costa Rica and Mexico made significant strides by entering the top ten for the first time since the report’s inception in 2012.
- In contrast, the United States fell to its lowest-ever ranking at 24th place, down from 23rd in 2024.
- The bottom of the list includes Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, and Lebanon, with Afghanistan ranked as the least happy country due to ongoing challenges faced by its population.
The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The report also involves an independent editorial board consisting of experts in the field of happiness and wellbeing.
Methodology
- The happiness scores are determined based on the national average of responses to life evaluation questions in the Gallup World Poll.
- Respondents assess their current life on a scale from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life).
- The rankings in the 2025 report are derived from a three-year average of life evaluations collected between 2022 and 2024.
- To analyse the differences in happiness levels among nations, the report considers six key factors: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, perceived freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perception of corruption.
- According to World Bank data, India’s per capita income in 2023 stood at $2,480.8, significantly higher than Pakistan’s $1,365.3.
- In terms of healthy life expectancy at birth, India recorded 58.1 years in 2021, slightly surpassing Pakistan’s 56.9 years, as per the World Health Organisation.
While India’s rise in the rankings is a positive indicator, Pakistan’s higher happiness score, despite economic challenges, suggests that factors beyond financial stability play a crucial role in determining overall happiness levels.
