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Happiness Index: Where does India rank?
The ranking is determined by individuals' assessments of their life satisfaction, coupled with factors such as GDP per capita, social support, and life expectancy
India ranks 126th in the recent 2024 Happiness report, mirroring its last years’ position / Image - Unsplash
Nordic countries have once again clinched the top spots in the latest edition of the World Happiness report, released by esteemed economists including John F. Helliwell and Richard Layard.
Published on Mar. 20, the report revealed that India retained its position at 126, mirroring last year's ranking.
The annual UN-sponsored study underscores the enduring happiness in Nordic nations, with Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel securing the coveted top five positions. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis following Taliban rule since 2020, languishes at the bottom of the list among the 143 countries surveyed.
Meanwhile, marking a significant shift, the United States and Germany, for the first time in over a decade, failed to secure spots among the top 20 happiest nations in the report. The US landed at the 23rd position, with Germany following closely at the 24th.
Notably, countries like Costa Rica and Kuwait made their debut in the top 20 rankings, with Costa Rica claiming the 12th position and Kuwait securing the 13th.
The report highlighted Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Jordan experiencing the steepest declines in happiness since 2006-10, while Serbia, Bulgaria, and Latvia in Eastern Europe reported the most substantial increases.
The rankings are based on individuals' assessments of their life satisfaction, coupled with factors like GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels.
Jennifer De Paola, a happiness researcher at the University of Helsinki in Finland, asserts that the Finnish people's deep connection with nature and their well-preserved work-life balance play pivotal roles in their life satisfaction.
De Paola further posits that Finnish individuals may possess a more grounded understanding of what defines a fulfilling life, unlike in nations such as the United States, where success is often equated with financial wealth. Moreover, Finland's strong welfare system, high levels of trust in governmental institutions, minimal corruption, and access to free healthcare and education are essential factors underpinning the country's overall happiness.
The latest report also reveals that younger generations typically express higher levels of happiness compared to older age groups globally, with some exceptions.
However, in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, happiness among individuals under 30 notably decreased from 2006 to 2010, resulting in older generations now reporting higher levels of happiness.
Conversely, Central and Eastern Europe witnessed a considerable increase in happiness across all age groups during the same timeframe. Meanwhile, in Western Europe, individuals of all ages reported similar levels of happiness.
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