New York: In the latest global happiness index unveiled on Wednesday, India found itself ranked 126th out of 143 nations, with the report highlighting that older age correlates with greater life satisfaction in the country with the largest population.
For the seventh consecutive year, Finland clinched the title of the world’s happiest country, leading the pack in the World Happiness Report 2024. Joining Finland in the top 10 are Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Australia.
India’s position at 126th places it below countries such as Libya, Iraq, Palestine, and Niger, as per the report released to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness.
The World Happiness Report is a collaborative effort between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR’s Editorial Board.
The report notes that the younger demographic in India reports the highest levels of happiness, while those categorized in the “lower-middle” segment appear the least content.
This year marks the first time since the report’s inception in 2012 that the United States (23rd) has slipped out of the top 20, attributed to a significant decline in the well-being of Americans under 30.
At the bottom of the overall rankings, Afghanistan retains its position as the world’s ‘unhappiest’ nation, while Pakistan secures the 108th spot.
According to the report, older age is associated with increased life satisfaction in India, debunking claims that such a correlation exists only in high-income nations. It reveals that, on average, older men in India express higher life satisfaction than older women, though the latter report higher life satisfaction than their male counterparts when other factors are considered.
India’s older population, the report highlights, is the second-largest globally, with 140 million individuals aged 60 and above, trailing only behind China with 250 million. Furthermore, the growth rate of Indians aged 60 and above surpasses the country’s overall population growth rate threefold.
Satisfaction with living arrangements, perceived discrimination, and self-rated health are identified as the top three predictors of life satisfaction in India.
The report underscores the significance of strengthening family and social networks to enhance well-being in older age, particularly for men, widowed individuals, those lacking formal education, and those experiencing discrimination.
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Moreover, Serbia (37th) and Bulgaria (81st) have seen the most substantial increases in average life evaluation scores since they were first measured in 2013 by the Gallup World Poll. Similarly, Latvia (46th) and Congo (Brazzaville) (89th) have made remarkable progress, climbing 44 and 40 places, respectively, between 2013 and 2024.
In a new development, the report now includes separate rankings by age group, revealing significant variations from the overall rankings. Lithuania emerges as the top-ranked nation for children and young people under 30, while Denmark claims the title of the world’s happiest nation for those aged 60 and above.
