India ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the 2025 World Happiness Report, released on March 20 by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board. Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest nation, followed by Denmark and Iceland. The ranking evaluates countries based on factors influencing social, physical, and emotional well-being.
Afghanistan was at the bottom of the list, largely due to Afghan women reporting increasing hardships. Sierra Leone and Lebanon also ranked among the lowest. India’s ranking has fluctuated over the years, with its lowest position at 144 in 2012 and its highest at 94 in 2022.
The study assesses happiness using six key factors: social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceived corruption. India performed well in social support, credited to its large population, strong community bonds, and traditional joint-family structures.
However, the country ranked the lowest in terms of perceived freedom, which measures individuals’ ability to make choices that contribute to a fulfilling life. Among India’s neighbors, Nepal ranked highest at 92, followed by China at 68, Pakistan at 109, Sri Lanka at 133, and Bangladesh at 134.
While Western nations dominated the top 20, Costa Rica and Mexico made history by entering the top 10, ranking 6th and 10th, respectively. Meanwhile, the United States dropped to 24th place, its lowest ranking ever, due to rising loneliness and declining happiness. The United Kingdom also saw its lowest ranking since 2017, placing 23rd.
This year’s report, which examines global happiness trends based on 2024 survey data, highlights the role of “caring and sharing” in personal well-being. Researchers focused on how generosity and communal support impact happiness, analyzing responses related to charitable giving and community support.
“Like ‘mercy’ in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, caring is ‘twice-blessed’ – it blesses those who give and those who receive. In this report, we investigate both of these effects: the benefits to the recipients of caring behaviour and the benefits to those who care for others.”
