India among world's least happy nations, ranks 122nd in happiness index

New Delhi: Latest report by the United Nations indicates that India is among least happy nations in the world with the country being ranked at 122nd spot out of 155 countries, which is behind terror-riven Pakistan and poorest-of-poor Nepal.

According to the World Happiness Report 2017, India came down by three slots as compared to last year when it was placed at 118th spot.

The UN report released on Monday showed that India was behind the majority of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations, apart from war-ravaged Afghanistan, that stood at 141.

Among the eight SAARC nations, Pakistan was at 80th position, Nepal stood at 99, Bhutan at 97, Bangladesh at 110 while Sri Lanka was at 120. However, Maldives did not figure in the World Happiness Report.

Norway took the top spot from Denmark as the happiest country in the world.

The Scandinavian nation, which was ranked fourth in last year's report, jumped to the top this year on the basis of several key calculations, including levels of caring, freedom to make life decisions, generosity, good governance, honesty, health and income.

Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and and Finland round out the top five, while the Central African Republic came last in the World Happiness Report.

Western Europe and North America dominated the top of the table, with the US and Britain at 14th and 19th positions, respectively.

Syria placed 152 of 155 countries -- Yemen and South Sudan, which are facing impending famine, came in at 146 and 147.

Other factors by which 155 countries were measured in the annual World Happiness Report are: inequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita, public trust (i.e. a lack of corruption in government and business), and social support.

The World Happiness Report was released to coincide with the United Nations' International Day of Happiness on March 20.

It may be noted that India is home to more than five crore people who are suffering from depression, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), even as the country faces acute shortages of medical professionals to treat them.

In its new global health estimates on depression, WHO also said over three crore Indians suffered from anxiety disorders in 2015.

(With IANS inputs)