The International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on March 20th since its inception by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, serves as a reminder of the significance of happiness in people’s lives worldwide. The 2024 World Happiness Report has revealed its findings, placing Finland at the pinnacle of global happiness for an impressive seventh consecutive year. Notably absent from the top 20 happiest nations are the United States and Germany, ranking 23rd and 24th respectively.
Nordic countries continue to dominate the happiness index, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway all securing top spots. This year’s report, which ranks nations based on key factors such as social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption, showcases a diverse list of countries spanning various continents. The top 20 happiest countries are as follows:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Luxembourg
- Switzerland
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Costa Rica
- Kuwait
- Austria
- Canada
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Czechia
- Lithuania
- United Kingdom
Regarding India’s position, it remains unchanged at rank 126, mirroring its placement in the previous year’s happiness index. The report interestingly highlights that, contrary to certain beliefs, older age in India is correlated with higher life satisfaction, debunking the notion that this association is exclusive to wealthier nations. However, it also points out a disparity in life satisfaction between older men and women in India, with women reporting lower levels of satisfaction.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan is identified as the least happy nation among the 143 countries surveyed in 2024, with Lebanon, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Congo also positioned towards the bottom of the ranking. These findings provide a comprehensive snapshot of global happiness, underscoring the varying degrees of well-being experienced across different regions and demographics.
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