Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Mar 21: India has been placed 126th out of 143 nations in the latest global happiness index, released on Wednesday. Notably, older age is linked with higher life satisfaction in India, the report highlights. Finland maintains its position as the happiest country worldwide for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden among the top 10. However, India ranks lower, behind countries like Libya, Iraq, Palestine, and Niger. The report, announced on the UN's International Day of Happiness, is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR's Editorial Board.
Interestingly, the study indicates that the youth in India are the ‘happiest’, while those in the ‘lower middle’ bracket are least satisfied. The United States has dropped out of the top 20 for the first time, largely due to a decline in well-being among Americans under 30. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the overall rankings as the world's 'unhappiest' nation, while Pakistan is ranked 108th.
In India, older age correlates with higher life satisfaction, debunking claims that this association exists only in high-income nations. Older men generally report greater satisfaction, although older women surpass them when considering other factors. Education and social status also play a role, with older adults with secondary or higher education and those from higher social castes reporting higher life satisfaction.
India's older population is the second-largest globally, with 140 million individuals aged 60 and over. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of factors such as living arrangements, perceived discrimination, and self-rated health in predicting life satisfaction. Strengthening family networks, particularly for older adults, widowed individuals, and those without formal education, along with reducing discrimination through social networks, could enhance well-being in older age.
Additionally, Serbia and Bulgaria have seen significant increases in average life evaluation scores since 2013, followed by Latvia and Congo (Brazzaville). For the first time, the report provides separate rankings by age group, revealing variations from the overall rankings. Lithuania ranks highest for children and young people under 30, while Denmark emerges as the world's happiest nation for those aged 60 and older.