Understanding the Global Happiness Index
World Happiness Report 2025: India’s Ranking and Global Trends: The World Happiness Report 2025, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, ranks 147 countries based on how people rate their own lives. These ratings aren’t about external achievements alone—rather, they reflect personal life satisfaction. The report uses survey data collected in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, focusing on aspects like GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and perceived corruption.
What Really Drives Happiness?
According to the report, money alone doesn’t make people happy. In fact, trust, relationships, and social connections matter just as much, if not more. People who regularly share meals or rely on friends for help report higher life satisfaction. The data also reveals that people often underestimate how kind others are—though many expect others not to return a lost wallet, studies show most people do, highlighting a widespread yet overlooked generosity.
Global Rankings: Who Tops the Chart?
In 2025, Finland once again ranks as the world’s happiest country, followed closely by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Costa Rica and Mexico made their debut in the top ten, coming in at sixth and tenth respectively. Israel, despite regional tensions, ranks eighth. Meanwhile, the United States slipped to 24th, and the United Kingdom stands at 23rd. Afghanistan remains at the bottom, joined by Sierra Leone and Lebanon, reflecting ongoing humanitarian challenges.
India’s Performance: Where Do We Stand?
India is ranked 118 out of 147 countries, reflecting low scores in perceived freedom and governance, despite doing better in social support and community bonding. While India’s score shows room for improvement, it’s worth noting that most South Asian neighbours—including Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh—rank even lower. China, however, ranks much higher at 68, indicating rising life satisfaction levels despite political restrictions.
The Loneliness Epidemic Among the Youth
A major concern raised in the report is the rising sense of loneliness, especially among young adults. Nearly 1 in 5 young people now report having no one to turn to, a sharp increase since 2006. This growing disconnection is linked to social media usage, urban isolation, and changing lifestyles, all of which contribute to lower happiness levels in the most connected yet loneliest generation.
Sharing and Caring: The Hidden Path to Happiness
One of the most powerful insights of the 2025 report is that kindness benefits both giver and receiver. Acts like helping neighbours or expressing gratitude create a feedback loop of increased happiness, trust, and emotional resilience. By fostering community connections, societies can significantly boost overall well-being—a finding that has practical implications for policy, education, and mental health.
STATIC GK SNAPSHOT
World Happiness Report 2025: India’s Ranking and Global Trends:
| Aspect | Details |
| Published By | Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford |
| Collaborators | Gallup, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network |
| Methodology | Self-assessed life evaluation surveys |
| India’s Rank | 118 out of 147 countries |
| Happiest Country | Finland |
| Lowest Rank | Afghanistan |
| Key Influencing Factors | GDP, life expectancy, social support, trust, generosity |
| Notable Trends | Rising youth loneliness, underestimated kindness |
| Importance for Exams | GS Paper 2 (Governance & Social Indicators), Essay Paper |
