The World Happiness Report 2025 has been released, ranking Sri Lanka at 133rd, a decline from 128th in the 2024 report. The report evaluates 147 countries based on global well-being indicators.
Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in collaboration with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board, the report compiles open-access data from over 140 countries, analyzed by top researchers across various disciplines.
The happiness rankings are determined by responses to a Gallup World Poll question based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, asking individuals to rate their perceived well-being on a ladder scale from 0 (worst life) to 10 (best life).
In the 2025 edition:
- Finland retained the top spot, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.
- The United States recorded its lowest-ever ranking, citing rising social isolation and political polarization.
- Afghanistan ranked at the bottom, followed by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Comoros, and Lesotho.
The 13th edition of the World Happiness Report coincides with the United Nations International Day of Happiness on March 20.
.jpg)
