Context:
Happiness is important for overall well-being, improving mental and physical health and helps in leading a positive life. The United Nations released the World Happiness Report 2025 on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness. This year, India stood at 118th position among 147 countries.
Key Highlights
- India ranks 126th out of 143 countries, with a happiness score of 4.054, placing it at the bottom among BRICS nations.
- BRICS Happiness Scores (2021–23 average)
- Brazil: 6.27
- Russia: 5.79
- India: 4.05
- China: 5.97
- South Africa: 5.42
India vs. Neighboring Countries
- Pakistan: Rank 108 (Score: 4.657)
- Nepal: Rank 93 (Score: 5.158)
- Myanmar: Rank 118 (Score: 4.354)
- India fared better than Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, which ranked lower.
Global Leader
- Finland topped the happiness rankings with a score of 7.741.
Age-wise Happiness in India (2021–2023 average)
| Age Group | Happiness Score | Change from 2006–2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Below 30 (Young) | 4.28 | -0.79 |
| Lower-middle age (30–44) | 3.76 (Lowest) | -1.12 (Sharpest fall) |
| Upper-middle age (45–60) | 4.01 | -0.94 |
| Above 60 (Old) | 4.10 | -0.87 |
| All Ages | 4.05 | -0.92 |
- Lower-middle-aged Indians (30–44 years) are the least happy demographic with the steepest decline in happiness scores since 2006–10.
Factors Influencing Happiness Scores
The report considers six major indicators:
- GDP per capita
- Life expectancy
- Social support
- Perceived freedom of choice
- Generosity
- Perception of corruption
