Pakistan’s ranking in the World Happiness Report 2025 has dipped slightly, falling to 109th from last year’s 108th position. Despite the decline, the country continues to rank higher than its regional neighbours, India and Afghanistan, which stand at 118th and 147th, respectively.
Published by Gallup and its partners, the annual report ranks 147 countries based on their happiness levels, evaluated through population surveys measuring quality of life from 2022 to 2024.
In the region, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rank 133rd and 134th, while Iran, despite hosting a 3.9% refugee population, fares better at 99th. China leads Asia with a strong showing at 27th place.
Finland continues its reign as the world’s happiest country, followed by Denmark and Iceland. Other nations in the top 15 include Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Norway.
Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have seen notable declines, with the US dropping to 24th—its lowest ranking ever—and the UK falling to 23rd, its worst since 2017.
At the bottom of the list, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe are among the least happy nations.
The report highlights the role of social support, income levels, personal freedoms, life expectancy, and corruption in shaping happiness worldwide. This year’s findings also stress the significance of “caring and sharing” in boosting overall well-being.
