World Happiness Report 2025: Poor Ranking Makes Indians Very Unhappy

[Riaz Haq]

Pakistan has outranked India yet again on the World Happiness Index, making Indians very very unhappy. Indian media commentators' strong negative emotional reaction to their nation's poor ranking  betrays how unhappy they are even as they insist they are happier than their neighbors. Coming from the privileged upper castes, these commentators call the report "absurd", citing India's higher per capita incomes and its space program. They seem detached from the real conditions in which the vast majority of Indians find themselves. They fail to acknowledge the high levels of inequality and unemployment prevalent in their country. A CNBC report last year found that one billion Indians have a per capita income of just $1,000 a year, lower than that of sub-Saharan Africans. 92.5% of Indians live in conditions similar to or worse than those experienced by the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. No wonder India ranks alongside the poorest sub-Saharan African nations in the World Happiness Report 2025. 

World Happiness Map. Source: World Happiness Report 2025

Pakistan (109) has not only outranked India (118) but also ranked higher than Sri Lanka (133) and Bangladesh (134). The authors of the 2035 happiness report said new evidence indicates that engaging in acts of generosity and believing in the kindness of others are “significant predictors of happiness, even more so than earning a higher salary”.  The family is a source of joy and support for most people, the report found. Couples who live with at least one child, or couples who live with children and members of their extended family, have especially high average life satisfaction.

Income Inequality in India

An inequality report on India found that 92.5% of Indians live in economic conditions similar to those found in the poorest nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Only 0.5% of Indians enjoy incomes comparable to average Singaporeans, while 2% have incomes of average Polish citizens and 5% similar to Mexicans. 

India Among Most Unequal Nations. Source: World Inequality Report

Finland tops the World Happiness Report 2025 rankings, making it the happiest country for the eighth year in a row. It is followed by Denmark and Iceland. Other nations in the top 15 include Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Norway.

Even the higher-income Indians are unhappy. Millions of them are voting with their feet and leaving their country of birth in droves. India is losing its best and brightest to the West, particularly to the United States, at an increasingly rapid pace. A 2023 study of the 1,000 top scorers in the 2010 entrance exams to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) — a network of prestigious institutions of higher learning based in 23 Indian cities — revealed the scale of the problem. Around 36% migrated abroad, and of the top 100 scorers, 62% left the country, according to a report in the science journal Nature.  Nearly two-thirds of those leaving India are highly educated, having received academic or vocational training. This is the highest for any country, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Example of The Great Indian Brain Drain. Source: Boston Political R...

Brain drain is defined as the loss of precious human capital of a nation. It is a “consequence of an education system designed for ‘selecting’ the best and brightest in an economy that is still too controlled and cannot create opportunities for its best and brightest”, according to Indian economist Shruti Rajagopalan. High-profile examples of India's human capital loss include Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), Arvind Krishna (IBM) and Ajay Banga (World Bank). 

Foreign-Born STEM Workers in America. Source: American Immigration ...

Growing number of Indian students are going abroad for higher education each year and 90% of them never return home after completing their studies.  In 2022, the number of Indian students leaving the country for higher education reached a six-year high of 770,000. And a 2021 report estimated that around two million Indian students would be studying abroad by 2024. 

Many developing countries are experiencing brain drain. But India is losing its best brightest at a much faster rate than others. Some call it "The Great Indian Brain Drain". This is the reason why Indians in the United States are the best educated and the highest earning group.  In a recently published book titled "The Other One Percent", authors Sanjoy Chakravorty, Devesh Kapur and Nirvikar Singh explain this phenomenon. 

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[Riaz Haq]

Why is India an unhappy Republic?

The latest World Happiness Report 2025, sponsored by the United Nations, puts India among lowest rung in the global list. In a survey covering 147 countries, India was ranked at a pathetic 118, making it one of the least happy countries in the world.

https://newsarenaindia.com/undefined/why-is-india-an-unhappy-republ...

The annual report is published in collaboration with Gallup and the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre. Though India has made considerable economic progress over the last few decades, it doesn’t reflect in the Happiness Index. The message here is that India needs to adopt a more focused, people-centric policies that result in fair distribution of economic gains. Instead of trashing the report as “western conspiracy to sully the country’s image”, we must take the findings as a wake-up call and work earnestly to improve the key development indicators.

A sharp and sustained focus on employment, health and social support areas could help the country significantly improve its global standing. The index shows that India’s poor position is mainly because of the rising socioeconomic inequalities, lack of trust in governments and widespread perception of high corruption in political and administrative ranks. It means an average Indian on the street is angry, restive and frustrated. This is despite being a rising economy.



The importance of having a job for happiness is a major factor and holds across all of the world’s regions. The people with a job evaluate the quality of their lives much more favourably than those who are unemployed. The data also shows that rising unemployment negatively affects everyone, even those still employed.



While economic growth is important, it is not the sole determinant of happiness. India needs to focus on holistic development that encompasses social, cultural, and environmental aspects.



Addressing income inequality and promoting inclusivity can create a more equitable and happier society. The UN report emphasises the importance of strong social connections and a sense of belonging. India can focus on strengthening community networks and fostering a sense of solidarity.



A lack of trust in institutions and fellow citizens can negatively impact happiness. There is an urgent need to root out corruption and build trust in government and social structures.




Countries like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, which consistently rank high in the happiness index, demonstrate the importance of strong social safety nets, high levels of trust, and a focus on overall well-being. India can learn from the Scandinavian model of social welfare, which prioritises the well-being of its citizens instead of blindly following the Western model of development.

[Riaz Haq]

Happiness Index report leaves Indians unhappy


https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2025/Mar/24/happi...

BENGALURU: The recently released World Happiness Report 2025, which placed India at 118 out of 147 countries, has sparked widespread criticism from netizens, including prominent personalities.

Many expressed disbelief over India ranking below Pakistan, Palestine and Ukraine, questioning the methodology used in the assessment.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar voiced his concern, emphasising that India’s ranking should be much higher.

“Having travelled extensively around the world, I feel India’s ranking deserves to be much higher. I disagree with India being placed so low, even below conflict zones. Happiness is not just about bonding; anger and frustration can also create bonds. But when it comes to the happiness index, I feel India is far, far better,” he said and added that on his travels he has observed that human values are much higher in India.

“Compassion, the way people welcome guests and how they share their resources is incredible. If something happens to a family, the entire village comes together to help. This kind of social bonding is very strong,” he said, adding there are issues in the country, but in the last decade, there has been significant improvement.

He also argued that poverty does not necessarily equate to unhappines, citing how even in India’s slums, people exhibit joy and resilience.

The World Happiness Report 2025, prepared by University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in collaboration with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, faced backlash across social media.

Netizens questioned the credibility of the index. A user identified as GK pointed out on X: “I wonder what they measure. The suicide rate in Finland is 15.1 per 100k, which is higher than India at 13.4 per 100k. I doubt if happy people love to kill themselves!?”

Another post from Temple Tales read: “Everyone knows that India is a land of happiness; every day here is a festival.”

A post by Ravi Tiwari suggested reading the Happiness Index from bottom to top for a more accurate picture. Another handle listed countries using the highest number of antidepressant pills per 1,000 people, and India was not in the list at all.

[Riaz Haq]

Why India Can’t Smile: 118th in the World Happiness Report 2025 Exposes Modi’s Circus

https://youtu.be/-5Ql1wz4cmE?si=meq_-ChDQ99Temwq

India dreams of being a global superpower, but the World Happiness Report 2025 ranks it a pathetic 118th out of 147—closer to Afghanistan than anyone worth bragging about. Narendra Modi’s obsessed with outdoing China, yet tiny nations like Bhutan and Nepal are laughing their happy heads off way above us. What’s the deal? In this savage takedown, we rip into the circus of Modi’s ‘Viksit Bharat’—a $3.7 trillion economy that leaves most broke, corruption at 96th, and a youth drowning in 7-8% unemployment. From Delhi’s smog to rural neglect, India’s a happiness wreck while Modi chases Xi Jinping’s shadow.

Join us at Unpaid Insights as we expose the gap between India’s delusions and reality. Like, comment, and subscribe for more unfiltered rants—share this with your Modi-fan friends and watch them squirm! What do you think—can India ever climb out of 118th with this crew? Drop your thoughts below!

[Riaz Haq]

India & Pakistan are safer than the United States. A complete list of world's 10 most dangerous countries for 2025

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/india-pakistan-are-s...

The United States ranked 89th on the list of the world’s safest countries for 2025, falling behind both India (66) and Pakistan (65), according to the latest list by Numbeo. A tiny European country Andorra is the best nation for globetrotters concerned with personal security.

To devise the “safety index by country for 2025,” Numbeo rated 146 nations based on the overall level of crime as “derived from surveys conducted by visitors” to their website. Numbeo factored in survey responses about how safe residents feel while walking during the day and night. They also accounted for worries over “mugging, robbery, car theft, physical attacks by strangers, harassment in public places, and discrimination based on factors like skin color, ethnicity, gender or religion.”

Also taken into consideration was the “assessment of the extent of property-related crimes, such as burglary, theft, vandalism” and violent crimes such as assault, homicide and sexual offenses.

[Riaz Haq]

Bhavika Kapoor
@BhavikaKapoor5
Hi
@grok
, If we remove top 10% rich from GDP calculation, then India GDP per capita will be equivalent to an African country. Yes or no?

https://x.com/BhavikaKapoor5/status/1905096726358196584

----------

Grok

@grok
Yes, if the top 10% richest are excluded, India's GDP per capita drops to ~$1,128, similar to African countries like Senegal ($1,090) and Cameroon ($1,150). This reflects India's high income inequality, where the top 10% hold ~57% of national income, skewing the overall figure of $2,613.

https://x.com/grok/status/1905098055940026664

[Riaz Haq]

Why are the rich leaving India, where are they headed? - The Economic Times


https://m.economictimes.com/nri/migrate/why-are-the-rich-leaving-in...

As part of a global trend topped by China and the UK, a large number of rich are leaving India. A recent survey by Kotak Private, a leading wealth manager, in association with consultancy EY, shows that a significant number of the rich are leaving India. At least 22 per cent super rich Indians wish to leave the country due to factors like living conditions here, better standard of life abroad and also easier business environment in other countries, the survey of 150 ultra high net worth individuals (UHNIs) said.

There were 2.83 lakh Indians who can be tagged as UHNIs in 2023, with each having a net worth of over Rs 25 crore and their aggregate wealth was pegged at Rs 2.83 lakh crore. The same is expected to grow to 4.3 lakh individuals possessing a wealth of Rs 359 lakh crore by 2028, as per the survey.

Kotak Mahindra Bank's president Gautami Gavankar, however, said the decision to migrate should not be seen as a flight of capital out of the country, pointing out that the caps on such activities ensure that the money does not flow out even if a person changes residency.

A report by Henley & Partners last year said that millionaire migration out of India is showing signs of slowing down. While a projected 4,300 high net-worth individuals (HNIs) were still expected to leave in 2024, this number was a significant decrease compared to previous years.

India, which has historically seen higher numbers of wealth exodus, was expected to experience a decline in HNWI migration in 2024 compared to the 5,100 in 2023, which was again lower than the net outflows of 7,500 individuals in 2022, as per the report. When lots of rich folks start moving out, it might suggest the economy is on its way to taking a nosedive. And this is probably why the projected decline in millionaire migration out of India could be a positive sign. While the country is still losing wealthy individuals, the slowdown suggests a potential improvement in the factors that were driving them away in the first place.

Traditionally, factors like low taxes, economic opportunities, and political stability were the biggest draws for migrating millionaires. However, the Henley & Partners 2024 report said that priorities are evolving. Quality of life, educational opportunities for children, and resilience to climate change are now equally important considerations. Additionally, the ability to protect wealth for future generations is a growing concern.

As per the Kotak Private survey, the super rich leaving India seek improved standard of living, healthcare solutions, education or lifestyle, adding that over two-thirds said smoothening of business operations is a key driver for them. Calling the migration decision as an "investment in the future", the survey also said that pursuit of excellent higher education for their children leads them to make the choice.

The survey said the professionals show a higher propensity to migrate than the entrepreneurs or inheritors, while from an age group perspective, it is UHINs in the 36-40 years and above 61 years who are more keen to migrate.

Where are the rich from India and other countries headed?
As is the case with many millionaires in other countries, Indians seem to be preferring the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has a zero income tax policy for individuals, and it levies just a 5 per cent value-added Tax on the purchase of goods and services, making it a top destination for millionaires with a projected inflow of a staggering 6,700 HNIs in 2024. Other popular choices include Australia, Singapore, the US, and Switzerland. These countries offer a combination of factors that are increasingly important to the wealthy: political stability, low taxes, excellent education systems, and a higher quality of life.

[Riaz Haq]

Canadian man asked to choose between India and Pakistan for better hospitality. He picked Pakistan | Trending - Hindustan Times


https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/india-vs-pakistan-canadian-...

India vs Pakistan
Instagram user @officialnamour, known for his vox pop videos, recently stopped Canadian traveller Nolan Saumure to ask him about his opinion on desi hospitality.
“India or Pakistan, which country has better hospitality?” Saumure was asked.
“Pakistan, obviously,” the Canadian man replied.
Asked to explain why he picked Pakistan, Saumure said that Indians tend to treat foreigners like lucrative customers with an endless amount of money, rather than guests visiting their country. Pakistanis, on the other hand, display warm hospitality, asking tourists to share their food and even their homes.
“You go to India and people just look at you as a walking ATM,” said Saumure. “You go to Pakistan and people are just like, ‘Oh come here, sit. Take this free food. Oh come sleep at my place.’”