India Ranks 122nd in Happiness Index With Norway Topping The List

According to United Nations World Happiness Annual Report, India ranks 122nd; falls behind the terror-riven Pakistan and poorest-of-poor Nepal in the global list of the happiest countries.

India came down by three slots, from the 118th spot it held last year. It lags behind the majority of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations, apart from war-ravaged Afghanistan, that stands at 141.

‘Happiest countries are determined by the levels of caring, freedom to make life decisions, generosity, good governance, honesty, health and income. India ranks 122nd in this index.’

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Among the eight Saarc nations, Pakistan was at 80th position, Nepal stood at 99, Bhutan at 97, Bangladesh at 110 while Sri Lanka was at 120. However, Maldives did not figure in the World Happiness Report.

Norway took the top spot from Denmark as the happiest country in the world.

The Scandinavian nation, which was ranked fourth in last year's report, jumped to the top this year on the basis of several key calculations, including levels of caring, freedom to make life decisions, generosity, good governance, honesty, health and income.

World Happiness Report Ranks Denmark 'The Happiest Country'
Denmark, which was ranked first in the 2013 version but lost that honor to Switzerland in 2015, now reclaims its title as the happiest country on Earth.

Other factors by which 155 countries were measured in the annual World Happiness Report are: inequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita, public trust (i.e. a lack of corruption in government and business), and social support.

Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Finland round out the top five, while the Central African Republic came last in the World Happiness Report.

Netherlands Tops the Happiness Meter
A Gallup World Poll survey has found that The Netherlands is the happiest country in the world.

Western Europe and North America dominated the top of the table, with the US and Britain at 14th and 19th positions, respectively.

Syria placed 152 of 155 countries; Yemen and South Sudan, which are facing impending famine, came in at 146 and 147.

Pakistan Happier Country Than India, U.S., Reveals Survey
In a recent survey it was found that Pakistanis are happier about their lives than Indians and Americans.

The World Happiness Report was released to coincide with the United Nations' International Day of Happiness on March 20.

Source-IANS