Finland Tops Global Happiness Rankings

Finland has once again secured the top position as the world’s happiest country, marking its ninth consecutive year at number one. The annual report, released on March 20 to mark the International Day of Happiness by the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, highlighted growing concerns over the negative impact of social media on youth—especially girls in Western Europe and other developed nations. The study noted that individuals under 25 in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are experiencing increasing instability in their lifestyles, largely due to excessive time spent on social media platforms. Nordic nations such as Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway also featured prominently in the top 10. Costa Rica made a significant leap from 23rd position in 2023 to fourth place this year, attributed to strong social connections and stable living conditions. Meanwhile, the United States ranked 23rd, Canada 25th, and the United Kingdom 29th. Afghanistan, grappling with severe crises under Taliban rule, remained the least happy country, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.

India has shown a slight improvement in the happiness rankings, climbing two places to secure the 116th position this year, compared to 118th in 2024. The report indicates improvements across several key parameters, including corruption levels, generosity, personal freedom, per capita income, and healthy life expectancy. In the regional context, Nepal ranked 99th, while Pakistan stood at 104th place. Despite the modest progress, India continues to face challenges in enhancing overall well-being and life satisfaction among its population.