Report coincides with UN's International Day of Happiness

Report shows happiness disparity in India

There's link between higher life satisfaction and older age

India has been placed 126th out of 143 nations in the latest global happiness index, which highlighted a correlation between older age and higher life satisfaction in the country. 

The World Happiness Report 2024 revealed Finland as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden among the top 10. 

The report, released to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness, noted India’s position behind countries like Libya and Iraq. 

Conducted by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report emphasized the happiness disparity across demographics in India, with the youth reporting higher levels of happiness compared to those in the lower-middle stratum. 

The United States dropped out of the top 20 for the first time, primarily due to declining well-being among young Americans. Afghanistan retained its status as the world’s least happy nation, while Pakistan ranked 108th. 

The report highlighted factors influencing life satisfaction in India, including education, social caste, living arrangements, discrimination, and health, suggesting measures to enhance well-being among older adults, particularly focusing on family and social support networks. Additionally, it noted significant increases in life evaluation scores in countries like Serbia and Bulgaria since 2013.