World happiness report: Bangladesh slips 14 spots

Bangladesh slipped 14 spots in the World Happiness Report 2025 and is now ranked 134th out of 147 countries.

According to the 13th annual World Happiness Report, released to mark the UN's International Day of Happiness, Bangladeshis are happier than only 13 of the ranked countries.

Bangladesh was ranked 129th last year.

The report surveyed people worldwide between 2022 and 2024. The happiness ranking is based on a three-year average of individuals' self-assessed life satisfaction, as well as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels.

Finland was ranked as the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, with locals and experts crediting its grand lakes and strong welfare system for boosting national well-being.

Nepal (92) was the happiest country in South Asia, followed by Pakistan (109), India (118), and Sri Lanka (133).

Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020, once again ranked as the unhappiest country in the world.

The United States fell to 24th place, its lowest ranking since the report was first published in 2012, when it had recorded its highest ranking at 11th place.

Nordic countries all remained among the top 10 happiest, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden trailing Finland, which slightly extended its lead over runner-up Denmark.

Meanwhile, Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth, respectively.

This year, the authors of the happiness report highlighted new evidence indicating that engaging in acts of generosity and believing in the kindness of others are significant predictors of happiness—more so than earning a higher salary.

They also noted that, in general, "people are too pessimistic about the kindness of their communities," and that "the return rate of lost wallets is much higher than people expect."