Who's leading the world happiness index for 2024, and where does India rank?

In a recent happiness report,  India came in 126th place out of 143 countries. It's pretty fascinating that the report discovered older folks in India are generally happier than younger people.

Who's Leading The World Happiness Index For 2024

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On the bright side,  Finland was ranked the number one happiest country in the world again! This is the seventh year in a row that Finland has topped the World Happiness Report. Rounding out the top 10 are Denmark,  Iceland,  Sweden,  Israel,  the Netherlands,  Norway,  Luxembourg, Switzerland,  and Australia.

According to the latest findings revealed on Wednesday to celebrate the UN's International Day of Happiness,  India holds the 126th spot on the list,  trailing behind countries like Libya,  Iraq,  Palestine,  and Niger.

The World Happiness Report is a collaboration between Gallup,  the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, WHR's Editorial Board,  and the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre.

Young people in India report being the "happiest,"  while those in the "lower middle" category express the least happiness.

For the first time since its inception in 2012, the US (ranked 23rd) has slipped out of the top 20,  primarily due to a significant decline in the well-being of Americans under 30.

Afghanistan still holds the unfortunate title of being the world's 'unhappiest' nation, sitting at the bottom of the overall rankings. Meanwhile,  Pakistan is placed at the 108th position on the list.

The report mentioned that people tend to have higher life satisfaction as they grow older in India,  "refuting some claims that the positive association between age and life satisfaction only exists in high-income nations." On average,  older men in India are more satisfied with life than older women "but when taking all other measures into account,  older women report higher life satisfaction than their male counterparts," the report stated.

In India,  older adults who have completed secondary education or higher and those from higher social castes tend to express greater life satisfaction compared to those without formal education and individuals from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

India's older population is the second largest worldwide,  with 140 million Indians aged 60 and over,  second only to its 250 million Chinese counterparts. Additionally,  the average growth rate for Indians aged 60 and above is three times higher than the overall population growth rate of the country,"  as stated in the report.

The report pointed out that in India,  what really makes a difference in life satisfaction are your living arrangements,  how you feel about discrimination,  and how you rate your own health,  as per the study's findings.

"We found that older men,  those in the higher age groups,  currently married,  and those who were educated,  report higher life satisfaction compared to their respective peers. Lower satisfaction with living arrangements,  perceived discrimination, and poor self-rated health were important factors associated with low life satisfaction among older Indians,"  it said.

There are some simple things we can do to make a big difference for older folks,  according to this report. Here's a breakdown of the points:

1) Vulnerable Groups: The study focuses on men, widowed individuals,  and those with less formal education - groups who might face specific challenges in getting family support. Focusing on these groups can ensure a more inclusive approach to care.

2) Family Support: Encouraging stronger family ties can provide emotional support,  practical help with daily tasks,  and a sense of belonging for older adults. 

3) Social Ties: Combating discrimination and building strong social connections outside the family can help older adults feel valued,  reduce loneliness,  and offer opportunities for engagement.

The report mentioned that Serbia,  ranking 37th,  and Bulgaria,  ranking 81st,  have seen the largest improvements in average life satisfaction scores since they were initially assessed by the Gallup World Poll in 2013. The countries that have seen the biggest boosts in life satisfaction rankings are Latvia,  climbing 44 spots to 46th place, and Congo (Brazzaville),  jumping 40 spots to 89th place,  between 2013 and 2024.

This time around,  the report breaks things down by age group. It turns out,  the top choices can vary a lot depending on how old you are. Lithuania ranks highest for children and young adults under 30,  whereas Denmark claims the title of the happiest nation for individuals aged 60 and above.