The United Nations on March 18 released its 10th annual World Happiness Report two days ahead of the International Day of Happiness which is celebrated on the 20th of March. According to the report, Pakistan, after dropping 15 places in one year, currently stood at 121 on the list, whereas India ranked further down, ranking 136.
The World Happiness Report ranks countries based on how happy their citizens think themselves to be. The report is based on two factors – elements that determine the well-being and data recorded through surveys. The report is published annually by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Read more: Pakistan jumps eights spots, India drops seven on World Happiness Index
In 2022, for the fifth straight year, Finland has topped the board on the world happiness report, which usually ranks around 150 countries based on factors such as GDP per capita, freedom to make life choices, social support, healthy life expectancy, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
Finland was followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, marking the top five happiest countries according to the index. However, Austria was dropped out from the top 10 list and ranked 11th in this year’s report.
Once again, #Pakistan is so much happier than #India! In 2022, Pakistan ranks 67 on the happiness index while India has plunged to an all-time low of 140. And once again, even Togo is happier than India…#PakistanZindabad https://t.co/P3S9byJeoj
— carin jodha fischer (@carin__fischer) March 18, 2022
“Data considered in the World Happiness Report offers a snapshot of how people around the world evaluate their own happiness and some of the latest insights from the science of well-being,” Lara Aknin, one of the co-authors of the report, said in a press release. She further added that “this information is incredibly powerful for understanding the human condition and how to help people, communities, and countries work toward happier lives.”
At the bottom of the list stood Afghanistan which, after the U.S withdrawal, is currently under the Taliban government. Lebanon and Zimbabwe soon followed Afghanistan.
Read more: The Lhotshampa: The unhappy people of the world’s happiest country
Below are the top 20 happiest countries in the world:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Sweden
- Norway
- Israel
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Australia
- Ireland
- Germany
- Canada
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Czechia (Czech Republic)
- Belgium
- France