World Happiness Report
UN SDSN and partners rank countries on life evaluations from survey data.
Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
Based largely on Gallup World Poll responses.
Quick recall
- What data does the WHR use?
- Gallup World Poll life evaluations.
- What is the Cantril ladder?
- A 0 to 10 scale of how good one's life is.
- Name three explanatory factors.
- GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy.
- When is it released?
- Around 20 March.
- Which country usually tops it?
- Finland.
- Do the six factors create the ranking?
- No; ranks come from life evaluations, and factors explain them.
The basics
Why it matters
The World Happiness Report ranks countries by how people rate their own lives, using Gallup survey data, and explains the ranks with six factors.
What it measures
The index combines several components.
- 1GDP per capitaIncome
- 2Social supportSomeone to count on
- 3Healthy life expectancyHealth
- 4FreedomFreedom to make life choices
- 5GenerosityGiving
- 6CorruptionPerceived corruption
You now know
- Rankings are based on self-reported life evaluations (Cantril ladder).
- Six factors are used to explain differences.
- Published around 20 March, the International Day of Happiness.
- Nordic countries, led by Finland, usually rank highest.
Go deeper
In one line: The WHR asks people how their lives are going and ranks countries by the answers.
Why it matters for UPSC
It connects to debates on Subjective well-being and alternatives to Beyond GDP measures.
The core idea
Well-being depends on trust, support and freedom, not income alone.
Where to go next
- Subjective well-being: How people rate their own lives
- Beyond GDP: Measuring progress more broadly
In one line: Self-reports are valuable but sensitive to culture and sampling.
Critique
Small samples and cultural differences in answering.
Uses
Policy focus on social support and trust. See Subjective well-being and Beyond GDP.
Where to go next
- Subjective well-being: How people rate their own lives
- Beyond GDP: Measuring progress more broadly
Subjective well-being
How people rate their own lives
In one line: Subjective well-being is how people evaluate their own lives and feelings.
Measures
Life evaluations, positive and negative emotions.
Use
Bhutan's Gross National Happiness and the WHR.
Where to go next
- Beyond GDP: Measuring progress more broadly
Beyond GDP
Measuring progress more broadly
In one line: 'Beyond GDP' means measuring progress with indicators beyond output.
Examples
HDI, green GDP, well-being indices.
Reason
GDP ignores inequality, environment and well-being.
Where to go next
- Subjective well-being: How people rate their own lives
Prelims-style quiz
The World Happiness Report ranks countries using:
- Crime rates
- Self-reported life evaluations
- Health spending
- GDP data
Show answer
Answer: (b) Self-reported life evaluations. Life evaluations from surveys.
Consider the following:
1. The six factors are used to calculate rankings directly.
2. The report uses the Cantril ladder.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only. Factors explain, not calculate, rankings.
The International Day of Happiness is:
- 10 October
- 5 June
- 20 March
- 21 June
Show answer
Answer: (c) 20 March. 20 March.
Which country has usually topped the report recently?
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Finland
Show answer
Answer: (d) Finland. Finland.