Finland's Position as the Happiest Country
Finland ranks as the happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, while India ranks at 118. This raises questions about the criteria used to define "happiness" and the factors contributing to these rankings.
The World Happiness Report 2025
- The report is produced by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford.
- Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden top the list, while India scores 4.389 out of 10.
- Rankings are based on the Gallup World Poll’s Cantril Ladder, which involves self-reported life ratings from 0 to 10.
- Six variables are considered: GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption perception.
India vs. Pakistan
Despite being the world's fifth-largest economy, India's happiness rank is lower than Pakistan's, highlighting the complexity of measuring happiness beyond economic metrics.
Factors Affecting Happiness Scores
- Societies with lower expectations may report higher happiness due to adaptation to hardships.
- Vibrant democracies, like India, may experience lower satisfaction due to rising aspirations and media scrutiny.
- "Belief in community kindness" and social trust are significant predictors of happiness.
Challenges for India
India's challenge lies in enhancing connections rather than just economic growth.
- 19% of young adults globally lack anyone to rely on, indicating shrinking real-world networks.
- Global indices may be biased, often valuing conformity over democratic openness.
India's Approach to Improving Happiness
- Rebuild social capital through community spaces and shared activities.
- Restore institutional trust by simplifying citizen-state interactions.
- Recognize mental health as an economic policy with significant returns on investment.
Conclusion
India's pursuit of happiness involves not only economic ambition but also building empathy infrastructure. The nation’s restlessness and quest for better lives indicate ambition rather than unhappiness.
