People of Pakistan are relatively happier than people from neighboring countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, according to a new report issued on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the World Happiness Report 2024 was released by tthe UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in collaboration with Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the WHR’s Editorial Board.

According to the report, Finland is the happiest country in the world. The country has held this position for the seventh time. Finland has a high standard of living, quality education, and excellent healthcare facilities. It is also one of the least corrupt countries despite the pandemic and economic or social disturbances.

The report draws on more than 140 countries. Nordic countries hold the top four positions. Denmark holds 2nd position, Iceland holds 3rd and Sweden is on 4th rank in the report.

Out of 25 countries, the US (23), Germany (24) and Mexico (25) make up the lowest three.

Pakistan ranked 108 while India ranked 126, Bangladesh at 129 and Afghanistan at last on the list out of 143 countries.

Pakistan scored 4.6 out of 10 as the country embarked on improvement in various factors such as social support, freedom of choice, and charitable giving. The report emphasized that policymakers should focus on improving quality of life.

The countries lower than Pakistan are Niger (109), Burkina Faso (110), Mauritania (111) followed by Gambia, Chad, Kenya and Tunisia out of 115 countries.

The last five countries before Afghanistan include Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho and Lebanon ranked 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142 respectively.

Among Middle Eastern nations, the UAE and Saudi Arabia ranked at 22 and 28 respectively.

Singapore was ranked at 30, Japan at 50 and South Korea at 51 in Asian nations.

The top 100 countries ranked in this index are Iran at 100, Laos at 94, Nepal at 93 and Iraq at 92.

The top 60 countries includes Cyprus (50), Philippines (53), Vietnam (54), Portugal (55), Hungary (56), Paraguay (57), Thailand (58), Malaysia (59) and China (60).

The main variables of this report are GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption.

The survey was filled with a rate scale from 0 to 10 referred to as the Cantril ladder from 1000 respondents.

In last year’s report, Pakistan was ranked at 121 which improved this year.