World Happiness Report 2026 | 20 Mar 2026

Why in News? 

The World Happiness Report 2026 was released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with the Gallup World Poll and the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. It marked Finland as the world's happiest country for the ninth consecutive year. 

Key Points: 

• Ranking Criteria: Happiness is measured using six key indicators—GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perception of corruption. 
  • Top Countries: Finland (1^st), Iceland (2^nd), Denmark (3^rd), Costa Rica (4th), Sweden (5^th), Norway (6^th), Netherlands (7^th), Israel (8^th), Luxembourg (9^th), Switzerland (10^th). 
    • Costa Rica (4^th) is the standout "surprise" of 2026, marking the highest rank ever for a Latin American nation. 
  • Bottom Countries: Afghanistan (147^th), Sierra Leone (146^th), Malawi (145^th), Zimbabwe (144^th), Botswana (143^rd), Yemen (142^nd), Lebanon (141^st), DR Congo (140^th), Egypt (139^th), Tanzania (138^th). 
• India’s Rank: India is ranked 116th, with a life evaluation score of 4.536. 
  • Pakistan (104^th) and Nepal (99^th) rank above India, indicating stronger social support and well-being indicators. 
  • Among BRICS members, China ranked 65^th followed by Russia (79^th), and Iran (97^th). 
• Regional Trends: Europe, particularly Nordic nations, performs well, whereas South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa face challenges due to socio-economic issues. 
• Significance: The report emphasizes a shift in policy focus from pure economic growth to inclusive development, mental health, and social well-being.