Uzbekistan has secured the 47th position in the global ranking of the happiest countries, as revealed by the World Happiness Report, an annual publication jointly compiled by a division of the UN, the Gallup Institute, and the Oxford Well-Being Research Center.
The release of the report coincides with March 20, celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Happiness. This year's report delves into the happiness levels across different age groups. Countries are ranked based on scores averaged over the period of 2021–2023, with points allocated according to citizens' self-assessment of their lives on the "Cantril ladder," a 10-point scale. The study encompasses a total of 143 states.
Among age groups, elderly individuals in Uzbekistan reported the highest levels of happiness, while those aged below the average (30 to 44 years old) reported lower levels of happiness. This contrasts with the trend observed in most countries, where younger individuals tend to report higher levels of happiness than older demographics.
Finland retained its status as the happiest country globally, with all five Nordic countries making it to the top ten. Meanwhile, happiness levels surged in Eastern European countries, notably in the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Slovenia. Conversely, the U.S. and Germany dropped out of the top 20 to 23rd and 24th places, respectively.
At the bottom of the ranking, Afghanistan occupied the last position, with Lebanon, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, and Congo also featuring among the least happy nations.
The report further highlights that happiness levels are on the rise in Central and Eastern European countries across all age groups, while older individuals are experiencing increased happiness in East Asia. Conversely, happiness levels declined among all age groups in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, with the most significant decrease observed among young people in North America.
Ukraine ranked 105th, followed by Georgia at 91st, and Azerbaijan at 101st. Data for Belarus and Turkmenistan were not included in the report.
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