According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Report, Pakistan is the happiest nation in South Asia. These findings were released by the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network on March, 20th.
The report ranks countries happiness based on six key variables income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support, and generosity.
Pakistanis are happier than Indians, Bangladeshis and other South Asian nations (feeling happier already). Globally, Pakistan stands at the 67th rank.
March, 20th was designated World Happiness Day by the UN General Assembly in 2012. Its only fitting that UN released its report on national happiness on this day as well.
South Asian Countries and Happiness
Based on the report, Pakistan came in at 67th place. India ranked at 140th, which is seven spots lower than its ranking from the preceding year. The report states there’s been a decrease in India’s happiness in 2019, compared to 2018.
In general, there has been a widespread negative trend of worry, sadness, and anger globally, especially in Asia and Africa.
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Amid this, Pakistan improved its position by eight ranks. Last year Pakistan came in at 75th place (an improvement by six ranks, from 80th in 2017).
Bangladesh is ranked 125th and China came in at 93rd place on the World Happiness Report.
Saudi Arabia also managed to improve its position and came in 28th place.
Western Countries and Happiness
Meanwhile, the United States went down a notch at 19th place. In 2018 the US came down by four ranks from 14th place.
Oddly, even among all the tensions with Brexit and the economic downturn, Britain climbed the ranks from 19th to 15th place.
Finland topped the list for the second time in a year. Its’ Nordic fellows Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and The Netherlands closely followed suit.
People in war-torn South Sudan are the most unhappy with their lives, followed by:
- Central African Republic – 155th,
- Afghanistan – 54th,
- Tanzania – 153rd,
- Rwanda -152nd.
