What is the rank of India in the World Happiness Index 2021?
- (1)141
- (2)129
- (3)121
- (4)139
Answer
Why
Correct — option (4), 139.
The World Happiness Report 2021 ranks 149 countries on life evaluations averaged over 2018–2020. In its Figure 2.1, India is 139th, with an average score of 3.819.
Finland is first, at 7.842, followed by Denmark (7.620) and Switzerland (7.571). Afghanistan is last, 149th, at 2.523.
The scores come from the Gallup World Poll, where respondents rate their current life on a ladder from 0, the worst possible life for them, to 10, the best possible.
In the previous edition, the World Happiness Report 2020, India was 144th of 153 countries, with 3.573.
World Happiness Report 2021: India 139th of 149.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)141 — 141st in the World Happiness Report 2021 is Yemen, with 3.658. India is two places higher, at 139th with 3.819.
The number sits close to India's rank, so it can pass for it. Burundi is 140th, between India and Yemen.
- (2)129 — 129th in the 2021 ranking is Sri Lanka, with 4.325, a neighbour of India, not India itself.
China (84th), Nepal (87th), Bangladesh (101st), Pakistan (105th), Myanmar (126th) and Sri Lanka (129th) all ranked above India's 139th in that report.
- (3)121 — 121st in the World Happiness Report 2021 is Kenya, with 4.607.
India's 3.819 placed it 18 ranks lower, at 139th. In the 2020 and 2021 reports India was 144th and 139th, not 121st.
Concept
The World Happiness Report ranks countries by how people evaluate their own lives. The Gallup World Poll asks respondents to rate their current life on a ladder from 0 to 10; the report says around 1,000 responses are typically gathered for each country each year.
The usual ranking rests on a three-year average. In 2021 that meant 2018–2020, and countries were included if they had at least one survey in that period.
The report's Figure 2.1 breaks each score into parts explained by GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption, plus a part labelled Dystopia (2.43) + residual.
RPSC's 2021 Prelims syllabus lists "Happiness Index" under Human Resource and Economic Development, next to the Human Development Index.
The World Happiness Report 2021 was written by John F. Helliwell, Richard Layard, Jeffrey D. Sachs, Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Lara B. Aknin and Shun Wang. Its overview chapter is titled Life under COVID-19, and the report notes that its annual launches fall on the International Day of Happiness, 20 March.
COVID-19 affected the data. The report says the number of 2020 surveys available in time was about two-thirds as large as usual.
Key facts
- World Happiness Report 2021, Figure 2.1: India ranked 139th of 149 countries, with an average life evaluation of 3.819 for 2018–2020.
- World Happiness Report 2021: Finland first (7.842), Denmark second (7.620), Switzerland third (7.571); Afghanistan last, 149th (2.523).
- World Happiness Report 2021 ranks of India's neighbours: China 84, Nepal 87, Bangladesh 101, Pakistan 105, Myanmar 126, Sri Lanka 129.
- World Happiness Report 2020: India ranked 144th of 153 countries, with a score of 3.573.
- The rankings use the Gallup World Poll's ladder question: people rate their current life from 0 (worst possible) to 10 (best possible).
India's rank, 139, is option (4). The other option numbers are the ranks of Kenya, Sri Lanka and Yemen in the same list.
Study next
Common traps
- Mixing editions. India was 144th of 153 in the 2020 report and 139th of 149 in the 2021 report.
- Taking a neighbour's rank. 129th in the 2021 list is Sri Lanka, not India.
- Quoting a rank without its total. The number of countries ranked changes between editions, so 139th of 149 and 144th of 153 are not directly comparable positions.
A question can ask India's rank in a given edition of the report, as this one does.
A question can also ask which country topped the ranking, compare India with its neighbours, or ask which poll supplies the data.
Related PYQs
The rank of India in Global Happiness Index 2023 is
- (1) 115
- (2) 118
- (3) 126
- (4) 136
Answer(3)
Same ranking, a later edition. That item asks the rank of India in the Global Happiness Index 2023 (RPSC's key: option (3), 126); this one asks India's rank in the World Happiness Index 2021.
Consider the following statements regarding World Happiness Report – 2024 : A. India ranked 126th out of more than 140 countries, which is lower than its neighbouring countries including China, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. B. India’s ranking has remained relatively stagnant over the years, indicating limited progress in improving the overall happiness and well-being of its population. Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
- (1) Only A
- (2) Only B
- (3) Both A and B
- (4) Neither A nor B
Answer(2)
Same report, three editions on. That item tests statements on the World Happiness Report – 2024, about India's 126th rank and its neighbours, and about its ranking staying relatively stagnant (RPSC's key: option (2), Only B); this one asks the single rank for 2021.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which country ranked first in the World Happiness Report 2021?
- (a)Denmark
- (b)Switzerland
- (c)Finland
- (d)Iceland
Answer(3) — Finland was first with 7.842. Option (1), Denmark, was second (7.620); option (2), Switzerland, third (7.571); option (4), Iceland, fourth (7.554). - practice — not a real PYQ
In the World Happiness Report 2021, which of the following neighbours of India had the highest rank?
- (a)Nepal
- (b)China
- (c)Bangladesh
- (d)Pakistan
Answer(2) — China was 84th. Option (1), Nepal, was 87th; option (3), Bangladesh, 101st; option (4), Pakistan, 105th. India itself was 139th.