Nepal climbs up in happiness index

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 21: As the world comes together to celebrate World Happiness Day, Nepal has made a slight improvement in 2025 World Happiness Index, securing 92nd position among 147 countries. 

The United Nations World Happiness Report serves as a global barometer of well-being and life satisfaction, measuring various factors that contribute to people’s overall happiness. 

In the world happiness index, Finland has remained the happiest country in the world for the eighth year in a row in 2025. The Nordic nations have once again dominated the top positions, with Denmark at 2nd, Iceland at 3rd, Sweden at 4th, and Norway at 7th place in the top 10. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, reflecting the ongoing humanitarian crisis that has persisted since the Taliban’s return to power in 2020. Nepal made a slight improvement in its happiness quotient, up from 93rd in 2024. It still falls short of its 2023 ranking at 78th. Nepal’s neighbouring country India lags significantly behind Nepal, ranked 118 in the list of happiest countries, with Pakistan ahead at 109.

Despite economic hardship, political instability and development challenges, Nepal is a happier country than its neighbouring country India, which stands at position 12 among the world’s most powerful countries. China ranks 68th in the list of happiest countries.

Among other South Asian nations, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh rank much lower at 133rd and 134th, respectively. However, Bhutan and the Maldives were notably absent from this year’s list.

The Netherlands is ranked 5th, Costa Rica in 6th, Israel in 8th, Luxembourg in 9th and Mexico in 10th position. United States, once a strong contender in global happiness rankings, has dropped to 24th place, one place lower than its 2024 ranking. 

Previously, America was ranked  in11th place in the 2012 happiness Index. 

The report is published based on analysis of how the people of 147 countries rate their quality of life. According to the report, factors like sharing resources with others, having somebody to count on for social support, and household size can play a crucial role in achieving happiness. 

The survey, which asked people in 147 countries and territories to evaluate their life on a scale from zero to 10, with key variables like GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption and others. According to the report, global evidence on the perceived and actual return of lost wallets shows that people are much too pessimistic about the kindness of their communities compared to reality. 

Actual rates of wallet return are around twice as high as people expect.

Believing that others are willing to return your lost wallet is also shown to be a strong predictor of population happiness: Nordic nations also rank among the top places for expected and actual return of lost wallets. The findings are powered by Gallup World Poll data and other sources, including the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, and analysed by leading experts in wellbeing science.