Tuesday, 09 Jun, 2026
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New Delhi’s rising global ranking strengthens its soft power, yet Islamabad’s higher score despite economic woes raises concerns over quality-of-life disparities.
India’s position in the World Happiness Report 2025 has improved, climbing from 126th (2021-23) to 118th (2022-24), with its score rising from 4.054 to 4.389. While this signals progress, India still lags behind regional peers such as Pakistan, which, despite economic struggles, recorded a higher score of 4.768. The rankings are based on life evaluations from the Gallup World Poll, reflecting public sentiment on well-being, economic security, and social trust.
The government may highlight improvements in infrastructure, welfare schemes, and economic stability as key drivers of rising happiness. However, persistent challenges like income inequality and job market stress need attention to sustain progress.
Also, rising per capita income, digital expansion, and social initiatives could further boost the country’s happiness score, but concerns over inflation, work-life balance, and environmental quality may limit gains.
India’s improving ranking enhances its soft power, but being outscored by Pakistan despite economic troubles may raise questions about quality-of-life disparities within India’s growth narrative. Sustained improvements will require a stronger focus on holistic well-being—beyond economic indicators—by addressing social and mental health challenges.
New Delhi ranks 10th in volunteering and 57th in donating, highlighting a strong culture of giving. However, trust in institutions lags, as seen in lower rankings for returned wallets—115th (neighbour), 86th (stranger), and 93rd (police). This suggests that while Indians are generous and community-oriented, institutional trust remains a challenge.
Social scientists are of the view that the country’s strong sense of community is an asset, but improving institutional trust and civic infrastructure will be crucial to climbing the happiness rankings
For the eighth consecutive year, Finland retains its position as the world’s happiest country, reinforcing the Nordic model’s success in fostering well-being. European nations continue to dominate the top 20, but Latin America’s rising presence—Costa Rica (6th) and Mexico (10th)—signals a broader shift in global happiness trends. Meanwhile, the US (24th) and the UK (23rd) hit their lowest rankings, with social isolation and declining community engagement cited as key factors.
Finland’s continued dominance may push other nations to study its emphasis on work-life balance, social trust, and universal welfare policies. Countries falling in rank may reassess public health, income inequality, and social cohesion strategies.
America and the UK’s experience serves as a warning for other nations prioritising growth over social cohesion. Countries aiming for higher happiness rankings may need to invest in mental health awareness, local communities, and inclusive social policies.
The report highlights that well-being isn’t just about wealth and health—it’s deeply tied to everyday social interactions. Researchers found that household size, community trust, and simple lifestyle habits like shared meals significantly boost happiness. In Mexico and parts of Europe, households with four to five members report the highest happiness levels, highlighting the importance of close-knit family structures. Meanwhile, societies where people expect lost wallets to be returned tend to score higher, suggesting that trust and kindness shape national well-being.
(The article kicks off India Tracker’s series on Happiness, Press Freedom, and Gender Equity.)
