Mirrow webdesk
UN World Happiness Report for 2021 says India is ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the happiness index classification. The happiest country is Finland and most unhappy is the Afghanistan. In fact, for the fourth consecutive row Finland has been retaining the top rank. It is followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, the Netherlands. Among the Asian countries, Pakistan is on 105th, Bangladesh on 101st and China on 84th. According to the report, the world’s richest country Us ranked 19th.
This annual report is based on GDP, healthy life expectancy and the opinions of residents. It is also based on a survey (Gallup world poll) among the people of different participating countries asking them for their responses on social support they receive, freedom to make life choices, their opinions on corruption and generosity prevailing in the society.
India has been going further down the ladder with each passing year since 2013 when it was at 113.
| Year– | Happiness Index | Happiness score (10 point scale) |
| 2021 | 139 | 3.819 |
| 2020 | 144 | 3.573 |
| 2019 | 140 | 4.015 |
| 2018 | 133 | 4.190 |
| 2017 | 122 | 4.315 |
| 2016 | 118 | 4.404 |
| 2015 | 117 | 4.565 |
| 2013 | 111 | 4.772 |
Economists argue that the reason behind the chronic unhappiness of India is multifarious, some of which are rapid urbanization and congestion in cities, concerns about food security and water safety, rising costs of health care, women’s safety, environmental pollution and related mental wellbeing. The growing economic inequality is also another factor. The rising expectations of the Indian people and the unmet of the same adds on the volume of unhappiness, experts opined. The recent pandemic has added to the woes surely and affected every criterion of that list for evaluation of happiness score for India. But that has not been only unique for India. Might be, the pandemic has affected the overall happiness of Indian people more than that of many other countries.
The bottom-line is, we are more unhappy than 138 countries of the world at this moment.
The best way to be happy is to cease to be unhappy.
Among the top happy countries I visited Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, US by chance.
Public security, health care, water safety, clean shelter, expression of mind,besides food, are the important parameters. In India, feeling of insecurity has been increasing. Health Education, and not particular languages, should be the essential part of education. Security of people should be taken care of.