The World Happiness Report 2025 is the world’s foremost publication on global wellbeing and how to improve it.
Table of Contents
Who Publishes the World Happiness Report?
The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, London, UK, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The Wellbeing Research Centre offers a comprehensive analysis of global happiness levels, emphasizing the significance of social connections, trust, and communal activities in enhancing individual and societal well-being.
On 2 April 2012, the first World Happiness Report was presented at Defining a New Economic Paradigm, a high-level meeting on wellbeing and happiness featuring heads of state, senior UN leaders, and world-leading social scientists.
On 28 June 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/281, proclaiming 20 March as the International Day of Happiness to be observed annually. The World Happiness Report is released around 20 March each year as part of the celebrations.
Global Happiness Rankings
The global happiness ranking is based on a single question that asks people to evaluate the quality of their life on a 0–10 scale.
What are the Key Determinants of Happiness?
The report identifies several critical factors influencing happiness:
- Social Connections: Engaging in communal activities, such as sharing meals, has a profound impact on well-being. Despite this, the United States has seen a 53% increase in individuals dining alone over the past two decades, highlighting a potential area for improvement.
- Trust and Kindness: Belief in the kindness of others is closely linked to happiness. The report reveals that people often underestimate the likelihood of lost wallets being returned, with actual return rates being about twice as high as expected. This optimism in human nature correlates with higher happiness levels.
- Household Size: Living in larger households, particularly those with four to five members, is associated with increased happiness. However, many Europeans currently reside alone, suggesting a potential area for enhancing well-being through strengthened social bonds.
World Happiness Report 2025
In the World Happiness Report 2025, for the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been recognized as the world’s happiest country, with an average life evaluation score of 7.736 out of 10. Other Nordic nations, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, also secured top positions, underscoring the region’s consistent emphasis on social support and community cohesion. Notably, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top ten for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth, respectively. In contrast, the United States experienced a decline, falling to its lowest-ever position at 24th place, while the United Kingdom ranked 23rd, marking its lowest average life evaluation since 2017.
Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World Happiness Report 2025
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Rank
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Country
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1
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Finland
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2
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Denmark
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3
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Iceland
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4
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Sweden
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5
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Netherlands
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6
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Costa Rica
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7
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Norway
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8
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Israel
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9
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Luxembourg
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10
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Mexico
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India’s Position in the World Happiness Report 2025
India has improved its ranking in the World Happiness Report 2025, to 118th among 147 countries, up from 126th in the previous year. Despite this progress, India’s position remains lower than several conflict-affected nations, including Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Venezuela. The report assesses quality of life based on factors such as social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. However, some researchers argue that these metrics may not fully capture India’s unique cultural context, emphasizing the importance of strong family and community bonds that contribute to happiness.
Also see:
Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 by Transparency International
https://worldhappiness.report/
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