Discover Top 10 Happiest Countries in the World: Know Why India Lacks Behind

World Happiness report released by the Sustainable development solutions Network (SDSN), United Nations which evaluates the happiness index is based on many factors. The Report rank countries based on how happy their citizens believe they are. It is mainly based on per capita income, social Support, Healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, Generosity and Corruption.
This also inspires other countries to work on creating a better, happier life and environment for its citizens. The results are based on surveys that ask people to rate their own lives, with the data being used to determine the overall well-being in each nation. Here are the Top 10 countries ranking from highest to lowest.




The Happiest country in the world and you won’t believe it’s the happiest country in the world because of its stress-free lifestyle which nurtures creativity, making it one of the most innovative countries in the world. It is known to be the safest and most trusted place in the world as people tend to trust everyone around them including their neighbour, public officials, social staff, or government. It is best in showing transparency and perceived lack of corruption. Being the happiest country Finland sets an example for the whole world to understand the importance of honesty, safety and freedom, and a peaceful life.



You will be amazed to know that citizens of Denmark are one of the highest taxpayers in the world despite this, how are they the happiest people in the world? According to Danes, this is because they see what they get in return. They don’t go for freebies, but they have Life’s all those basic necessities freely accessible for everyone, including best healthcare, free higher studies, subsidised childcare, free helpers for taking care of elderly. Happiness is commonly linked with social equality and common responsibility for social welfare, and Denmark has it both.



Iceland, having a population of just 350,000, counts as the happiest country in the world. Other than good government structure, healthcare and education the reason for being Icelanders happiest is their strong social support. They always have people by their side whenever they need someone.



Sweden, a European country known for its beauty, culture, food and especially its design. Being the fourth happiest country in the world, Sweden is renowned for its emphasis on work-life balance and excellent healthcare. It is the most egalitarian country and a global leader in organic agriculture, recycling and renewable energy.



Best known for its solar energy consumption, technology and of course the endless number of museums which has successfully preserved ancient Israeli culture. A most special fact about Israel is its Hebrew language, one of the official languages of Israel. It was a dead language, and it was revived in the 19th century making it the world's only language that was successfully revived after extinction.





Once Facing the atrocities against Jews, used to be one of the most barbaric places is now the 6th happiest country in the world. The government policies and practices made it a country with high quality life, robust support system, accessible healthcare and education, inclusivity and trust and social support, allowing people to feel secure and valued within their society.



How Norway is among the happiest countries is often linked with how safe people feel there. People have equality in standard of living, no one is too rich or too poor. Norway has a special welfare system that takes care of people’s problems and worries. “Ragnhild”, a Norwegian psychologist and happiness researcher, says that accessible nature is also a major source of happiness for people in Norway.



A small European country that scores highly on quality of life, social support and freedom of choice. Luxembourg scoring highest in happiness index also credits to their corruption free system, transparency in work and generosity among residents.



Switzerland being one of the world's favourite tourist attractions is also the favourite place of its citizens. People there don’t dream of visiting other countries as they feel satisfied with the beauty they have. The people here have a high quality and standard of life, live a balanced work and personal life, have political stability and very low corruption, but a unique feature is its neutrality in international conflicts. All these together contribute to the happiness of its people.




Australia, the only Non-European Country that counts in Top 10 happiest countries in the world. What makes Australia a happier country is its People’s Healthy lifestyle, good work-life balance, and Their satisfaction with life. But what's unique in Australians is that they don’t take everything so seriously, they find humor in everything and can laugh at anything. According to them, this helps them to stay happier and chill.


India ranks 126th position out of 143 countries, sounds really bad but reality is not always what we see. India lacks behind in the world happiness index but is it really the way it sounds? Let’s try to explore the reasons that make India an unhappy country and what can be done to make India a happier place.

There’s not just a single or specific factor that affects the rank of India in the world happiness index, but many different factors.

The root cause of all factors is the vast diversity and highest population of India which makes it difficult to take care of every single community in India. Being the world's most populated and the world's 7th largest country it becomes very tough to manage India but still we are trying to indulge happiness in every corner of India.
India has significant income inequality, with a large percentage of the population still living below the poverty line. Economic disparity leads to unequal access to basic needs such as food, healthcare, education, and housing, which directly impacts people’s happiness.

India's healthcare system, though improving, still faces challenges like overcrowded hospitals, insufficient healthcare workers, and inadequate healthcare coverage, especially in rural areas. Poor health conditions directly affect life satisfaction and happiness.
While strong family ties are an integral part of Indian culture, the country faces rising individualism, stress, and social fragmentation. Increasing urbanization and changing lifestyles lead to a weakening of social connections in certain urban areas.
Many Indians face long working hours, job insecurity, and high levels of stress, which negatively impact their happiness. The pursuit of success often comes at the cost of personal time and health.

Environmental pollution, traffic congestion, and poor infrastructure are major sources of stress and discomfort in many urban areas. Poor air quality, noise, and lack of green spaces contribute to lower quality of life.
Corruption, inefficiency, and poor governance at various levels can contribute to a lack of trust in the system, reducing the happiness and sense of security among citizens.
India’s diverse society is often marked by social tensions related to religion, caste, and culture. Discrimination and intolerance can contribute to societal unhappiness and division.


India being an extremely diverse and large country, gets difficult to manage it with full prosperity. But with more such government policies and specially more practices by its citizen we can transform India to a much happier place.