Sri Lanka among world’s least happy countries

Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy nations in the latest 'World Happiness Report 2026', coming in at 134th out of 147 countries with a score of 4.0, underscoring ongoing concerns about national well-being.

The report shows a slight decline for Sri Lanka, which slipped one position from 133rd place in 2025 and now shares its ranking with Ethiopia. It also remains behind regional peers, with India ranked 116th, while Pakistan and Bangladesh are placed considerably higher.

The report released yesterday (18), it highlights that persistent social and economic difficulties continue to affect lower-ranked countries, with Sri Lanka still facing challenges in improving overall life satisfaction and quality of life.

A major theme of this year’s study is the increasing influence of social media on well-being, particularly among younger populations. Backed by the United Nations, the report notes that excessive social media use is linked to declining life satisfaction in many parts of the world, leading some governments to consider regulatory responses.

At the top of the index, Finland maintained its position as the happiest country globally for the ninth straight year, followed by Iceland and Denmark. Meanwhile, Costa Rica made a notable leap to fourth place, marking the highest ranking ever achieved by a Latin American nation.

The report also points to a significant drop in life satisfaction among people under 25 in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with increased social media usage identified as a key contributing factor. In contrast, young people in several other regions reported more positive perspectives on life.