KATHMANDU, March 24: Nepal has climbed one position in the World Happiness Index (WHI), now ranking 92nd out of 147 countries.
According to the World Happiness Report 2026, which reflects 2025 data, Nepal scored 5.31 points out of 10. In 2024, the country ranked 93rd with a score of 5.16 points.
The WHI evaluates countries based on six key indicators: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption.
Nepal ranks 2nd in South Asia, 106th in world press freedom ind...
Nepal’s current score remains below the global average of 5.57 points. The country’s historical average between 2013 and 2025 is 5.01 points, with a low of 4.16 points in 2013 and a high of 5.47 points in 2023.
Among South Asian nations, Nepal holds the highest position. Pakistan ranks 109th, India 119th, Sri Lanka 133rd, and Bangladesh 134th globally.
Finland and Denmark top the global rankings, with scores of 7.74 and 7.52 points, respectively. Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands complete the top five. Afghanistan ranks lowest overall with a score of 1.36 points, followed by Sierra Leone at 146th with 3.00 points.
The World Happiness Report, published by the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford, highlights social media use as a significant factor influencing well-being. “Heavy users of social media are at risk, especially in English-speaking countries and Western Europe,” the report warns.
In a survey of U.S. college students, most said they wished social media platforms did not exist. Many reported using them only because others do, though they would prefer if no one did.
Outside English-speaking countries and Western Europe, the relationship between social media use and well-being is more positive and varies by platform. Data from Latin America shows that platforms with algorithmic feeds and influencers tend to be more negatively associated with life satisfaction than those focused primarily on communication.
Internet activities generally fall into two categories: communication, news, learning, and content creation are linked to higher life satisfaction; social media, gaming, and casual browsing are associated with lower life evaluations. Life satisfaction is highest among those with low levels of social media use and declines as usage increases.
