“Big Nations Out, Small Nations In: Top 10 Happiest Countries Reshuffle”
14th May, New Delhi
The pursuit of happiness is a universal quest ingrained in the human experience. Annually, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network collaborates with Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the WHR’s Editorial Board to release the World Happiness Report.
This report not only offers insights into citizen well-being but also assists governments, policymakers, and organizations in understanding the factors influencing contentment and areas requiring attention.
In the 2024 release, Nordic countries continue their dominance, with Finland topping the rankings for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
Among the 143 surveyed nations, India maintains its 126th position from last year, while neighboring countries like China rank 60th, Nepal 93rd, Pakistan 108th, Myanmar 118th, Sri Lanka 128th, Bangladesh 129th, and Afghanistan at the bottom.
The World Happiness Index evaluates countries based on social and emotional aspects rather than solely economic indicators. Factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and absence of corruption contribute to the rankings.
Bhutan sets an example by prioritizing Gross National Happiness over economic development, emphasizing a holistic approach to societal progress.
Here are the top 10 happiest countries in 2024:
- Finland: 7.344
- Denmark: 7.583
- Iceland: 7.525
- Sweden: 7.344
- Israel: 7.341
- Netherlands: 7.319
- Norway: 7.302
- Luxembourg: 7.122
- Switzerland: 7.060
- Australia: 7.057
Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.
Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.