World Happiness Report 2025: How Happy Is India?

The World Happiness Report 2025 has been released, ranking countries based on key factors that contribute to overall well-being. India is placed at 118 out of 147 countries, according to the report published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board.

Finland has once again been named the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark and Iceland. Meanwhile, Afghanistan ranked the lowest, with many Afghan women expressing that their lives have become increasingly difficult. Sierra Leone and Lebanon also ranked at the bottom.

India has seen fluctuations in its ranking over the years, with its lowest position at 144 in 2012 and its highest at 94 in 2022. The report takes into account six key factors when measuring happiness: social support, GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

India performed well in terms of social support, largely due to its strong sense of community, large families, and cultural emphasis on togetherness. However, the country ranked lowest on freedom, which reflects how people perceive their ability to make life choices and whether they feel those choices lead to fulfillment.

When compared to neighboring countries, Pakistan ranked 109, Nepal 92, China 68, Sri Lanka 133, and Bangladesh 134. Meanwhile, the United States dropped to its lowest-ever ranking at 24 due to rising feelings of loneliness and dissatisfaction, while the United Kingdom placed 23rd, its lowest position since 2017.

One of the key themes of this year's report was the role of caring and sharing in shaping happiness. Researchers explored how acts of kindness, generosity, and community support not only benefit those who receive help but also those who give. As the report states, "Like mercy in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, caring is 'twice-blessed' - it blesses those who give and those who receive."