World Happiness Index 2018: India ranks 133

India was ranked 133rd among 156 countries inWorld Happiness Index 2018, recently released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The index ranked 156 countries based on factors (parmaters) such as inequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita, social freedom, generosity, public trust (i.e. a lack of corruption in government and business) and social support. Together these parameters are used to generate a happiness score of country on a scale from 1 to 10. This year it is sixth such list released since it was first published in 2012. The 2018 report, for the first time ranked happiness of foreign-born immigrants in 117 countries.

Key Facts

10 Happiest Countries: Finland (1st), Norway (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Iceland (4th), Switzerland (5th), Netherlands (6th), Canada (7th), New Zealand (8th), Sweden (9th) and Australia (10th). United States was ranked 18th down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and United Arab Emirates at 20th. In 2018 rankings, top-10, as ever dominated by Nordic countries.
The entire top ten were wealthier developed nations. But the report mentioned that money is not the only ingredient in the recipe for happiness. The entire top ten were wealthier developed nations. But the report mentioned that money is not the only ingredient in the recipe for happiness.
India’s ranking: The world’s largest democracy’s rank fell to 133rd position from 122nd last year. India was behind majority of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations apart from war-ravaged Afghanistan, which was ranked 145th. Pakistan (ranked 75th) and China (86th) were well ahead of India in happiness index despite being not the most democratic or free country.
SAARC nations: Pakistan (75th), Nepal (101st), Bhutan (97th), Bangladesh (115th), Sri Lanka (116th).

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2018