India Ranks Low in the World Happiness Report 2025

Context

1. The World Happiness Report 2025, released by the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford, ranks Finland as the happiest country for the eighth year in a row, while India stands at 118.
2. Surprisingly, Pakistan (109) scores above India despite economic instability. This has revived debates on what “happiness” really measures and whether global indices accurately capture wellbeing in diverse societies like India.

What the World Happiness Report Measures?

1. The report uses the Gallup World Poll’s Cantril Ladder, where people rate their life from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life). The score is then linked to six variables:
   1. GDP per capita
   2. Social support
   3. Healthy life expectancy
   4. Freedom to make life choices
   5. Generosity
   6. Perception of corruption
2. But the report itself admits that “belief in community kindness” and social trust correlate better with happiness than income. This means happiness is not purely economic, it depends heavily on perceptions, trust and expectations.

Why India Ranks Low Despite Strong Growth

1. High expectations = lower reported satisfaction: As a vibrant democracy with free media and rising aspirations, Indians expect more from governance, jobs, cities and public services. When expectations rise faster than improvements, reported happiness falls, even if actual wellbeing improves.
2. Perception bias: Democracies report more complaints whereas controlled societies report fewer, ranking them falsely higher. This penalises “noisy democracies” like India.
3. Shrinking social networks: Global data shows 19% of young adults feel they have no one to rely on, loneliness has risen by 39% since 2006. Migration and digital life reduce traditional social bonds, affecting feelings of happiness.
4. Institutional trust gaps: Nordic countries score high because people trust that a lost wallet will be returned; a sign of faith in institutions and community. In India, local trust (family, neighbourhood) is strong, but institutional trust (governance, services) is uneven.

How Happiness Scores Get Distorted?

1. Perception-based Indices
   1. Global indices rely on limited groups of “experts”.
   2. A nation with no dissent appears happier because complaints are suppressed.
2. WEIRD Bias
   1. Happiness norms are based on Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic societies.
   2. Western metrics favour individualistic trust (trust in institutions).
   3. Countries like India rely on collective trust (family, community), which is not measured.
3. Calm Conformity vs Democratic Expression
   1. Countries with limited media freedom or political dissent appear “stable”.
   2. Democracies, with active debate and criticism, appear less happy on surveys, even when living conditions improve.

India’s Happiness Trends Over the Years

1. 2012: Low point due to corruption scandals and economic slowdown.
2. 2022: High point from post-COVID welfare schemes like PMGKY, vaccination drives and digital support.
3. 2025: Happiness score at 389, ranking 118, worse than some poorer countries.
4. This shows that happiness does not move with GDP. It moves with trust, fairness and emotional security.

Implications

1. Economic growth alone cannot increase happiness.
2. Social trust and institutional confidence are key drivers.
3. Urbanisation brings prosperity but also loneliness and anxiety.
4. Happiness rankings may undervalue cultural and community strength in Asian societies.
5. Policymakers must integrate mental health and social wellbeing into governance.

Challenges & Way Forward

Conclusion

India’s low ranking in the Happiness Report says less about unhappiness and more about high aspirations, democratic openness and institutional challenges. True progress now requires pairing economic growth with empathy infrastructure; stronger community bonds, trusted public services, and mental health support. India may rank 118, but that reflects a nation still striving, self-aware, and ambitious; not unhappy, but unfinished.