 "‘Hard to trust:’ World Happiness Report claims people in war-torn Ukraine, Palestine happier than Indians")
The 2025 World Happiness Report is out and guess what, it claims people in war-torn nations like Ukraine and Palestine are happier than Indians. Furthermore, terror-hit nation Pakistan has also been ranked above India, sparking discussion on Indian social media whether the report can be trusted at all.
The report, prepared by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup, found Finland to be the happiest country on the face of the Earth, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden.
India ranked 118th out of the 147 surveyed, up from its 126th position in 2022 and 2023. But the South Asian nation was ranked below its neighbours Pakistan and Nepal, which bagged 109th and 92nd positions respectively.
People in Ukraine and Palestine are also happier than Indians, the report claims. Ukraine is ranked 111th whereas Palestine, where thousands have lost their lives to war with Israel, is ranked 108th.
Methodology
According to the report’s authors, they have relied on three key indicators to prepare the rankings of nations.
“Our measurement of subjective wellbeing continues to rely on three main indicators: life evaluations, positive emotions, and negative emotions. Happiness rankings are based primarily on life evaluations, as they provide a more stable measure of people’s quality of life,” the authors noted.
The report is based on an opinion poll conducted by Gallup World Poll, featuring suggestions of 1,000 responders per country.
Reactions on social media
Users on social media cast doubts over the credibility of the report, saying India in real was actually way happier.
“India is much happier than the reports show. The most extended study on happiness at Harvard found that relationships are one of the primary sources of happiness. In India, relationships are still strong,” one user wrote on X.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnother user mocked how civil war-torn Iraq and crisis-ridden Pakistan were ranked better than India.
“World Happiness Report claims India is worse than: Iran’s Islamist regime with burkha policing; War zones like Syria, Palestine, and Ukraine; Civil war-torn Iraq; Even Pakistan, where people are fighting for food”.
“I find the happiness index report hard to trust,” wrote a third, citing India’s vibrant culture of celebrating festivals.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
