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Nepal ‘happiest’ country in South Asia

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

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


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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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