The annual World Happiness Report that was released ahead of the International Day of Happiness on March 20 has made some unhappy revelations about India. India is ranked 133rd in the global list of the happiest countries, coming after terror-riven Pakistan and poorest-of-poor Nepal, and many other SAARC nations according to a UN report released on Wednesday. The war-ravaged Afghanistan was only a few spots behind and stood at 145.

Finland topped the list that combines economic, health and polling data compiled by economists that are averaged over three years from 2015 to 2017.

Taking the harsh, dark winters in their stride, Finns said access to nature, safety, childcare, good schools and free healthcare were among the best things about in their country.

Finland, rose from fifth place last year to oust Norway from the top spot. The 2018 top-10, as ever dominated by the Nordics, are Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden and Australia.

The World happiness Index was started by India’s neighbor Bhutan one of the most under-developed countries breaking the norm that modernization and growing economy does not only define happiness but is influenced by several other factors. Studying happiness may seem frivolous, but serious academics have long been calling for more testing about people’s emotional well-being, especially in the United States.

In 2013, the National Academy of Sciences issued a report recommending that federal statistics and surveys, which normally deal with income, spending, health and housing, include a few extra questions on happiness because it would lead to better policy that affects people’s lives.

The unhappiest nation was Burunei whose leader, President Pierre Nkurunziza, changed his title from "eternal supreme guide" to "visionary" this week. 

The United States came in at 18th, down from 14th place last year. Britain was 19th and the United Arab Emirates 20th.

One chapter of the 170-page report is dedicated to emerging health problems such as obesity, depression and the opioid crisis, particularly in the United States where the prevalence of all three has grown faster than in most other countries.