The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) has recently made the news with the release of the World Happiness Report for the year 2023. With an annual unveiling coinciding with the International Day of Happiness on March 20th, this report has been in circulation since 2012. It ranks global happiness using survey data from over 150 nations.
In 2023, a total of 136 countries were ranked according to their happiness levels. The ranking is determined using six key factors which include: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and the absence of corruption. Additionally, the report provides a snapshot of the state of the world in 2023.
2023 World Happiness Report: Country Performance
On evaluating the performance of individual nations, it was observed that Finland secured the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, making it the happiest country in the world. Close behind in the rankings were Denmark and Iceland, taking the second and third ranks respectively.
An interesting development in this year’s findings was the inclusion of Lithuania among the top 20 nations. Holding the 20th position, it was the first time this nation appeared in the top bracket of the ranking.
On the other side of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains the least happy country, followed by Lebanon, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
India’s Stance in the 2023 World Happiness Report
With regards to India, it was placed in the 126th position out of the 136 countries ranked, showing a clear struggle in fostering happiness among its populace. This ranking shows a slightly favorable movement as compared to 2022 when it held the 136th position out of 146 countries. Despite this, the country still lags behind neighboring nations such as Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
About the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
Launched under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General in 2012, the UN SDSN promotes a comprehensive approach towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing the Paris Climate Change Agreement. It does so through initiatives in education, research, policy analysis, and global cooperation.
UPSC Civil Services Examination – Previous Year Questions
These findings often form the basis for competitive examinations like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination. To illustrate, here are some previous year questions related to similar topics:
Q1. Which indicators are used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (2016)
Undernourishment
Child stunting
Child mortality
Answer: All three indicators are used (Option c)
Q2. Who gives the ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries? (2017)
Answer: World Economic Forum (Option a)
Q3. Who prepares the ‘Global Financial Stability Report’? (2016)
Answer: International Monetary Fund (Option b)
These reports not only provide an analytical perspective on the societal health of nations but also pave the way for meaningful discussions on enhancing global happiness and sustainable development.