India has been placed at the 126th position among 143 countries in the recently unveiled Global Happiness Index 2024, highlighting the diverse factors influencing happiness across different demographics within the nation. Despite its rich cultural heritage and rapid economic growth, India trails behind several countries, including Libya, Iraq, Palestine, and Niger, in terms of the overall happiness levels of its population. This placement underlines significant internal disparities and areas in need of focus to enhance well-being and life satisfaction among Indians.
Finland Leads as the Happiest Country
Once again, Finland has been crowned the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year, according to the World Happiness Report 2024. This prestigious ranking, released to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Happiness, sees Nordic and Western European countries dominating the top tiers, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands securing spots in the top ten.
The United States Sees a Drop
Notably, the United States has fallen out of the top twenty for the first time, mainly driven by the decreasing well-being among Americans under the age of 30. This development points to growing concerns over youth well-being in one of the world’s most developed nations.
Insights into Happiness in India
The World Happiness Report provides valuable insights, particularly about the Indian demographic. Young Indians are reportedly the happiest group, while those in the lower-middle-income bracket report lower levels of happiness. Contrary to certain beliefs that high life satisfaction with advancing age is a phenomenon only present in high-income countries, the report finds that older individuals in India generally report higher levels of life satisfaction. This is especially true among men and those with higher education or belonging to higher social castes.
India’s elderly population, the second-largest globally, demonstrates a significant growth rate that is three times higher than the country’s overall population growth rate. Factors such as living conditions, perceived discrimination, and self-rated health stand out as critical determinants of life satisfaction among older Indians.
Recommendations and Improvements
The report suggests that improving family and social networks to reduce discrimination and improve living conditions could significantly enhance the well-being of older adults in India. Education and reducing social inequalities also emerge as pivotal areas for improving life satisfaction.
Contrasting with India’s ranking, the report also highlights countries like Serbia and Bulgaria, which have seen significant improvements in their happiness scores. Such improvements underline the dynamic nature of global happiness and the potential for nations to enhance the well-being of their citizens.
For the first time, the report has also offered separate happiness rankings by age groups, with Lithuania leading for individuals under 30 and Denmark for those aged 60 and above, showcasing the variance in happiness determinants across different stages of life.
Conclusion
The World Happiness Report 2024, a joint effort by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR’s Editorial Board, aims to shed light on the complex genre of happiness across nations. For India, ranked 126th, the findings underline crucial areas requiring attention to boost the nation’s overall happiness. Through concerted efforts towards education, reducing inequality, and improving the quality of life for its elderly population, India can aspire to advance in the global happiness rankings in the years to come.
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