India has been ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the World Happiness Report 2025, released on Thursday, 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 continues to hold the title of the world’s happiest country, followed by Denmark and Iceland. The annual index evaluates nations based on social, physical, and emotional support factors influencing well-being.
At the bottom of the ranking, Afghanistan recorded the lowest happiness score, with many Afghan women reporting worsening living conditions. Sierra Leone and Lebanon followed closely behind.
India has climbed eight spots to rank 118th out of 147 countries. In the 2024 report, India had ranked 126th, the same as in 2023.The country’s lowest ranking was 144th in 2012, while its highest position came in 2022, when it stood at 94.
Pakistan ranks 109th in the index, slightly ahead of India, despite facing significant economic and social challenges.
The report ranks countries based on several metrics, including GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. Despite being one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India’s overall happiness score remains low.
India's performance in various measures of generosity highlights both strengths and challenges in social trust. The country ranks 57th in monetary generosity, with donations remaining steady despite economic ups and downs. Volunteering, however, stands out as a strong point—India ranks 10th.
Believing in the kindness of others is also much more closely tied to happiness than previously thought, according to the latest findings.
As an example, the report suggests that people who believe that others are willing to return their lost wallet is a strong predictor of the overall happiness of a population. When it comes to returning lost wallets, India ranks 115th when returned by neighbours, 86th when returned by strangers, and 93rd when returned by police officers.
The report also looks into the significance of sharing meals as a critical aspect of social connection that promotes overall happiness. However, India ranks 132nd globally in meal sharing, with an average of 4 meals shared per week. This low rate is indicative of increasing urbanization and lifestyle changes that promote solitary dining, particularly among younger populations.
Researchers say that beyond health and wealth, some factors that influence happiness sound deceptively simple: sharing meals with others, having somebody to count on for social support, and household size. In Mexico and Europe, for example, a household size of four to five people predicts the highest levels of happiness, the study said.
The U.S. falls to its lowest-ever position in the happiness ranking
While European countries dominate the top 20 in the ranking, there were some exceptions. Despite the war with Hamas, Israel came in at 8th. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking at 6th and 10th respectively.
When it comes to decreasing happiness — or growing unhappiness —the United States has dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The report states that the number of people dining alone in the United States has increased 53% over the past two decades.
The United Kingdom, at position 23, is reporting its lowest average life evaluation since the 2017 report.