UN Reports That Pakistan is A Happier State Than India

UN Reports That Pakistan is A Happier State Than India: According to an annual survey of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (SDSN) 2018 World Happiness Report, Pakistan is the 75^th out of 156 happiest countries in the world ranking higher than Bhutan (97), Nepal (101), Banagladesh (115), Srilanka (116), India (133) and Afghanistan (145). Finland is the world’s happiest country and Burundi came in the bottom of the report. Myanmar, which is embroiled in the ethnic violence between the majority Buddhists and the minority Rohingya Muslims has been placed at 130th position.

The report published on March 14^th, using a variety of polling organizations, official figures and research methods is based on GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption. Finland rose from 5^th place last year beating Norway from the top spot. The 2018 top 10 happiest countries are Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia. The United States came in at 18th, down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19^th and the United Arab Emirates 20^th. This year UNSDSN also looked and evaluated the happiness levels of the immigrants of 117 countries.

While US income per capita has increased over the last few years, happiness has been hit by declining social support networks, a perceived rise in corruption in government and business and declining confidence in public institutions. The current political situation in the United States could affect future happiness reports as well.

India ranking at 133 is behind the majority of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations dropping 11 places from its previous rank of 122 in the list of 156 countries after terror striked Pakistan and poverty effected Nepal. The enormous “happiness” gap between the countries indicates that Pakistan is at a better position in the key indicators of happiness.