World Happiness Report 2025: India Rises in Rankings

International Day of Happiness was celebrated across the world on March 20. Marking the occasion, the World Happiness Report 2025 was released which revealed several interesting facts.

India’s score and ranking in the world on the happiness scale improved in 2022-24 from 2021-23, according to the Happiness Report. The country’s score improved from 4.054 out of 10 to 4.389 during this period.

This reflected in the improvement in its ranking from the 126th position, among the total 143 countries, to the 118th spot among 147 countries, which means more countries were taken into the purview of the survey as years passed by.

At the same time, neighbouring nation Pakistan which has been reeling under financial crisis and struggling to keep its economy afloat, outsourced India.

Pakistan improved from its previous score of 4.657 to 4.768 during this period.

However, its rank dropped by one cog, from the 108th position to 109.

Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest nation for the eighth consecutive year.

Nordic countries continued to remain in top positions, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden maintaining their respective rankings in the top four spots.

The rankings were determined through self-evaluation surveys where participants rated their own lives. The research was conducted collaboratively by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, alongside Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Happiness was not measured on the parameters of wealth or growth. It’s about trust, connection and knowing people would support when in crisis. Stronger communities and economies must invest in what truly matters: each other.

The top 20 positions are predominantly held by the European nations, with notable exceptions. Israel secured 8th position despite being affected by the Hamas conflict, while Costa Rica and Mexico achieved their first top 10 placements, at the 6th and 10th respectively.

The US dropped to its lowest and stood at 24th, down from its peak at 11th in 2012. The UK occupies the 23rd position, marking its lowest evaluation since 2017.

Afghanistan is at the bottom of the rankings followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon as the second and third unhappiest nations respectively.

The rankings reflect average life evaluations from 2022 to 2024, analysed through various factors including GDP per capita, health expectations, social support, freedom, generosity and perceived corruption.