Bangladesh has dropped further in the World Happiness Report rankings, placing 134th out of 147 countries this year. This marks a decline from last year’s 129th position among 143 nations.
Among South Asian nations, Bangladesh ranks lower than most of its neighbors. India stands at 118th, Pakistan at 109th, Myanmar at 126th, and Sri Lanka just ahead at 133rd, while Nepal has performed significantly better, securing the 92nd spot. Afghanistan is the least happiest nation.
Meanwhile, Finland continues to lead the world in happiness for the eighth consecutive year, with an average life evaluation score of 7.736 out of 10.
Notably, Costa Rica and Mexico have broken into the top 10 for the first time, ranking 6th and 10th, respectively.
The United States (24th) and the United Kingdom (23rd) have recorded their lowest-ever positions.
The World Happiness Report is 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 rankings are based on a three-year average of each country's population's self-assessment of life quality, analyzed alongside key factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, perceived freedom in decision-making, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
Apart from the rankings, the report also found the impact of social connections on happiness, with shared meals and larger households linked to greater wellbeing.
However, social isolation is rising, with 19% of young adults lacking support—a 39% increase since 2006.
Acts of kindness reduce despair, while declining trust in the US and Europe fuels political polarization. Charity effectiveness also varies widely.
