Nepal ‘happiest’ country in South Asia

Published On: March 20, 2021 06:00 PM NPT By: Kamal Subedi  | @Inspiredkamal


Despite political crisis and COVID-19-haunted economy, Nepal climbs five notches up as compared to last year’s WHR 

KATHMANDU, March 20: Amid political turmoil and the COVID-19 pandemic that haunted the economy, Nepal is the happiest country in South Asia, ranking 87 out of 149 countries in a recently published list of countries based on their happiness index. 

The World Happiness Report 2021 published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network showed that Nepal has received higher happiness among all its South Asian peers. The Report sheds light on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and how people round the globe responded to the unprecedented threat posed by it.

Nepal notched five positions up compared to 2020’s 92nd position to lead the countries in South Asia with an index of 5.269 where Afghani people are reported to be the world’s least happy. Afghanistan, according to the report, lags at the bottom of the table of 149 countries with a point of 2.523.

Report was prepared based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), social support, generosity and healthy life expectancy. Similarly, freedom to make life choices, dystopia and perceptions of corruption were also regarded as the barometers to measure people’s happiness.

Finland has once again proved to be the happiest country in the world. The Nordic nation garnered 7.842 points compared to 2020’s 7.809.

Nepal’s northern neighbor China ranks the 84th position while southern neighbor India is placed in the 139th rank. Pakistani people were found to be happier than that of Indian as Pakistan ranks 105th in the list.

See the list of SAARC countries:

Rank      Country               Points

87           Nepal                   5.269

89           Maldives              5.189

101         Bangladesh         5.025

105         Pakistan               4.934

129         Sri Lanka              4.325

139         India                      3.819

149         Afghanistan          2.523

List of top ten happiest countries

1         Finland                            7.842

2         Denmark                         7.620

3         Switzerland                    7.571

4        Iceland                             7.554

5        Netherlands                  7.464

6        Norway                           7.392

7        Sweden                           7.363

8        Luxembourg                  7.324

 9        New Zealand                7.277

10        Austria                       7.268

List of top ten least happy countries

140         Burundi             3.775

 141        Yemen             3.658

 142        Tanzania             3.623

 143         Haiti             3.615

 144        Malawi             3.600

 145        Lesotho             3.512

 146        Botswana             3.467

 147        Rwanda             3.415

 148        Zimbabwe             3.145

 149        Afghanistan         2.523


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