World Happiness Report: Finland retains top spot, India 126th
The 2024 World Happiness Report was released on Wednesday, with Finland as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year. India, on the other hand, ranked 126 out of the 143 countries listed.
A drop in living standards among young Americans pulled the world’s biggest economy out of the top 20 for the first time.
The annual report evaluates happiness levels across more than 140 nations, considering factors such as social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption.
Nordic countries dominate the top rankings. Denmark and Iceland retain their positions at second and third place, respectively, with Sweden following closely at fourth. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan retained its status as the unhappiest country in the world for yet another year. Joining Afghanistan at the bottom of the list are Lebanon, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Congo.
India ranked at 126 place, same as last year. Most of India's neighbouring countries ranked higher, with China at 60, followed by Nepal at 93, Pakistan (108), and Myanmar (118).
Loneliness emerges as a significant issue, particularly in the United States, where there are growing concerns about its impact on mental and physical health. Surprisingly, it is the younger generation, particularly Millennials, who report higher levels of loneliness compared to older demographics.
Despite ongoing conflicts, Israel secures the fifth position in the report. The report attributed this to the three-year averaging method used in the rankings, which mitigates the immediate impact of cataclysmic events such as the war with Hamas.