Current Affairs

Issue

The World Happiness Report for the year 2022 has been released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a body of United Nations.

 

Details

• Finland has been ranked at the top of the list, whereas Afghanistan has been ranked last in the rankings.

• All the Nordic countries have been ranked in the top ten of the list. Denmark is at second spot, Iceland at third. Sweden ranks seven, while Norway is on the eighth spot.

• Bottom placed countries on the list are Afghanistan, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Botswana.

• India ranks 136 on the 2022 World Happiness Report. It has however improved its position from previous ranking of 139.

• India has the worst rank among the BRICS countries and has the second-lowest score among SAARC countries. 

 

Parameters used

• Per capita GDP

• Social support

• Healthy life expectancy

• Freedom

• Generosity

• Corruption levels 

 

Take-away

• The ten countries with the largest gains from 2008-2012 to 2019-2021 were, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Togo, Bahrain, Latvia, Benin, Guinea, and Armenia.

• The ten countries with the largest fall were Lebanon, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Zambia, India, Mexico, and Botswana.

 

Significance of ranking

The report helps countries to craft policies aimed at achieving happier societies across the world.