Bangladesh is happier as a nation than its Asian peers India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar as it moves seven notches up on the latest happiness index.
The United Nations released the World Happiness Report 2021 on Friday. It is a publication of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, powered by the Gallup World Poll.
According to the report, Bangladesh ranks 94th among 146 countries. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar place 136th, 121st, 127th and 126th respectively.
Nepal occupies 84th place in the index this time.
The 2020 report set Bangladesh at 101st among 149 countries. Afghanistan was marked as the unhappiest nation in 2021, followed by Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Botswana respectively.
Finland remained top for the fifth straight, followed by Denmark second and all five Nordic countries among top eight countries, joined by Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
To date, France reaches its highest ranking at 20th as Canada slips to its lowest-ever ranking at 15th just behind Germany at 14th.
Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom rank 16th and 17th in the happiness index.
Overall levels of life evaluations have been fairly stable during two years of Covid-19, matched by modest changes in the global rankings, the report states.
Research on happiness has grown from just a few countries notably in North America, Western Europe and Australia to a much more global endeavour.
On 28 June 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/281, proclaiming 20 March International Day of Happiness every year.
sajibur@gmail.com
