Sri Lanka drops to 133rd in World Happiness Report

20 March 2025 08:48 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 20 Bookmark

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Colombo, March 20 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has fallen to 133rd place in the World Happiness Report 2025, down from 128th in the 2024 edition.

Published on Thursday by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report evaluates various factors, including health, wealth, freedom, generosity, and freedom from corruption, to measure overall happiness across societies based on self-reported assessments from 147 countries.

Finland continued in the top spot this year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, and Mexico.

At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranked the lowest, followed by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Comoros and Lesotho.

The United States ranked 24th, one spot lower than last year, continuing its downward trajectory from a high of 11th place in 2012, when the survey began.

The report highlighted growing unhappiness in the US, noting an increasing preference for eating alone.

Comments - 20

IMF Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:03 PM

BRAVO SL. TOP SPOT'S EASTERN BORDER FULLY COVERED FROM WORLD'S LARGEST TERRITORY.

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Guppi Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:20 PM

Well, no surprise there! Its because the customs department keeps swinging like a pendulum with ever-changing tax structures on newly imported vehicles. Buyers are stuck in limbo, more like dire straits than happiness!

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Dilakshan Senevirathne Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:27 PM

This data was based on period prior to October 2024. In the next report we will hump up 60 places, and the one after that we will in the top 10 , The people will be happier with NPP government for ever.

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Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 21 March 2025 07:15 PM

Hello Dilkushani, I know a good brain specialist, I could speak to him so that you don't have to pay for his Rs 7000 consultation fee. Are you interested, please let me know.

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eddy Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:30 PM

The NPP govt has let down people's expectation badly. That may be one serious reason for the drop!

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Karunathilaka Thursday, 20 March 2025 10:45 PM

Punarudaya hits the fan!

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Amara Thursday, 20 March 2025 11:36 PM

This is the consequence of ELECTING robbers to run the country. What else we could expect from this mess. MR

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S P Thursday, 20 March 2025 11:46 PM

No wonder in 2025 we are not much happy compared to 2024. What do we mostly hear these days? All the horrors of 70s and 80s that were dead and buried long time ago are being re-run. In addition the high cost of commodities. I remember same months last year coconuts were Rs 120.00, price of rice not even an issue (certainly not in the news) and everything abundantly available, no shortages, no queues, avurudu and wesak were happy days. Whole country was vibrant. Now what we see is so much unhappiness that people are being prosecuted day in day out, daily reports of crime, not a single positive news but a lot of negatives reminding us daily what a bad lot we are. If you like to see all darkness without much of hope seeing the light at the end of the tunnel this year is the one!

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undefined Friday, 21 March 2025 01:16 AM

This can't be right... or the records must have been taken before the15th of this month because everyone i came across was having a good laugh over the monkey business....

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A Supporter of Struggling Workers Friday, 21 March 2025 02:57 AM

Sri Lanka was able to achieve this outstanding status thanks to those who ruled since 1977. Although NPP Government is not involved in corruption and murders, it has not done anything to punish robbers and murderers of previous governments and hence happiness has not improved. It has carelessly spent Foreign Exchange earned by hardworking workers of Tea Estates, Garment Industry and Tourism Industry and other industries to import cars for the rich while not doing anything to improve their lives, happiness remains low. Wake up NPP!

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Sivakumar, Jaffna Hindu Tamil Friday, 21 March 2025 03:57 AM

Random mindless violence , mental problems , depression, lack of family unity , lack of sentimental feelings , lack of humanity , lack of empathy, and an obsession for world domination are some of the defining characteristics of the White Man. But then when he creates a happiness chart and puts himself at the top of the chart and pushes the browns and the blacks to the bottom, he is proving to the world that he can also be a comedian despite his ghastly character.

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untrustworthy report Friday, 21 March 2025 04:41 AM

I live in Sri Lanka and very happy. I am very happy when I see people around me are very unhappy.

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Hadam Friday, 21 March 2025 05:40 AM

Increase the price for cup of tea by another Ten Rupees. People will be very happy

1 4

Umar Perera Friday, 21 March 2025 07:22 AM

Not surprised. A free and fair society where the rights of all (people, animals, nature) is respected and valued is a prerequisite for happiness. We are on a downward trajectory especially given that those in power seem to think that making grandiose statements will solve problems.

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Sokrates Friday, 21 March 2025 08:55 AM

As long as greed, envy and jealousy are embedded in the genes of many Sri Lankans, this country will never rise in this list.

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Jude Friday, 21 March 2025 08:55 AM

Oh man, it will be 200 by The year-end.

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Gamaya Friday, 21 March 2025 10:35 AM

Funny. So the new government not making people happy? Of course, we should blame the previous government for this.

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Neel ahamed Friday, 21 March 2025 11:39 AM

Yes, we Sri Lankan are among the most unhappiest nations, first our political systems is out dated and so far no any political party come forward to even most corrupted and complicated areas of the constitution. Even NPP also promised to nation but practically not yet happened. Anyway its visible sign is there they are exposing most looted politicians of the past regimes. Even though our judicial system cant punishes to them people will understand what happened and how to looted country with their friends and relatives. Yet our younger are doing such a low level jobs every where of world becomes still they are believing no future in this country.

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BanduXX Friday, 21 March 2025 12:53 PM

I find it difficult to gather that Israel is no 8 and Mexico no 10 while Australia is No 11 and NZ 12. See full WHR 2025 report. Uzbekistan is No 53 while Japan is No 55 and Korea No 58. While SL is 133 Somalia is 122 and Ethiopia is 132. May be some who comment adversely of SL, go the these two countries.

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Ajith Roshen Saturday, 22 March 2025 01:28 AM

I retuned to SL with my family after living the West for decades. We have been positively surprised in every area except life as a pedestrian. While a lot can be done to improve the living conditions, many areas are better than many Western countries. I have met dozens of families who returned and the feelings are mutual. We go the beach once a month, eating fresh foods, speak many kind people, and lost weight significantly to aid healthy living. In another scale SL would be ranked among the top 10.

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