Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The World Happiness Report 2025, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup, has once again ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Surprisingly, war-ravaged nations like Israel, Ukraine, and Palestine reported higher happiness levels than India.
India’s Position in the Happiness Index
India ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the overall life evaluation category, showing a slight improvement from 126th place in 2022 and 2023. However, India performed significantly better in specific categories:
• 57th in charitable donations
• 10th in volunteer work
• 74th in helping strangers
When respondents were asked about the likelihood of a lost wallet being returned, India ranked:
• 115th (neighbor returning)
• 86th (stranger returning)
• 93rd (police returning)
Key Findings of the World Happiness Report
The 2025 report focused on the theme “Caring and Sharing,” assessing nations based on:
• Life satisfaction of residents
• GDP per capita
• Healthy life expectancy
• Social support and freedom in decision-making
• Perceptions of corruption in governance and business
The Gallup World Poll also analyzed acts of kindness, including whether people:
• Donated money
• Volunteered for social work
• Helped a stranger
War-Affected Countries Rank Higher Than India
Despite ongoing conflicts, Israel ranked 8th, Ukraine 111th, and Palestine 108th, all ahead of India. Other notable rankings include:
• China dropped from 60th place to 68th
• Pakistan ranked 109th, surpassing India despite economic instability
• The United States saw a significant decline, falling to 24th place—its lowest-ever ranking
• Afghanistan remained the least happy nation (147th), followed by Sierra Leone (146th) and Lebanon (145th)
Social Interactions and Happiness
The report underscored the importance of social interactions in boosting happiness. It noted that people who frequently eat meals with others tend to be significantly happier, while a rise in eating alone has contributed to declining well-being in the US.
Another key finding was the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kindness. While acts of generosity surged during the crisis, they have since declined but remain 10% higher than pre-pandemic levels (2017-19). Helping strangers increased by 18% globally in 2024 compared to previous years.
