World Happiness Report: Finland happiest country in the world, India ranked 126th: U.N. report

Source: The post is based on the article “Finland happiest country in the world, India ranked 126th: U.N. report” published in Indian Express on 22nd March 2023

What is the News?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network has released the World Happiness Report 2023.

What is the World Happiness Report?

The World Happiness Report is a publication of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Parameters: The report measures happiness based on GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and low corruption. 

The report was released on March 20, which is celebrated as International Day of Happiness. 

What are the key findings of the World Happiness Report?

Globally: The Happiest country in the world was Finland. Two more Nordic countries – Denmark and Iceland – are second and third on the list.

– Afghanistan has occupied the bottom spot on the table since 2020. It saw its humanitarian crisis deepen since the Taliban government took power in 2021 following the US-led military pull-out.

India: India was placed at the 126th position out of 137 countries. It has improved from the 2022 index where it was ranked 136th.

– However, still India was ranked below Pakistan, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In Asia, India is only better off than Afghanistan which was placed at 137th position.