Context: The World Happiness Report 2025 was recently published. India is ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the latest edition.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: About World Happiness Report 2025
World Happiness Report
- It is an annual global assessment that ranks countries based on life satisfaction and happiness levels.
- Published by: Wellbeing Research Centre (University of Oxford) in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
- The report ranks global happiness basis survey data in over 140 countries.
- Criteria for Ranking: Based on six key indicators- Social support, GDP per capita, Health- life expectancy, Freedom, Generosity and Perception of corruption.
Key Highlights of the Report
1. Global Highlights:
- The report ranked Finland as the happiest country for the 8th consecutive year, while Afghanistan as the unhappiest country in the world.
- The report highlights a concerning trend of young adults reporting the lowest well-being among all age groups.
2. India's Performance:
- India ranks 118th out of 147 countries, improving its rank from 126th in 2023.
- India's happiness score increased to 4.389, on a scale of 0-10. Zero denotes the worst possible life and 10 denotes the best possible life.
Key factors influencing India's Ranking:
- India scored high in personal freedom which was at a five-year best.
- India’s GDP per capita ranking has improved showing economic progress.
- Perception of corruption in India has shown improvement.
- However, India’s rank below Nepal, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Palestine in the overall happiness, raises concerns about the methodology used in the report.
The report has suggested investing in education, employment and mental health services to improve the well-being of young adults and contribute to long-term national happiness.