Bangladesh climbs 7 notches in happiness index

Despite facing the harrowing shocks of Covid-19 pandemic, happiness among Bangladeshis are growing for the last four years, according to the World Happiness Report (WHR).

The latest WHR index shows Bangladesh’s rank in happiness jumped seven notches to stand at 94 among 146 countries in 2021, beating its South Asian neighbours India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh ranked 101, 107, and 125 in the previous four years respectively.

Eight European countries are among the top ten happiest nations — five are from Scandinavia, according to the rankings.

On the flip side, eight African countries dominate the bottom ten. The remaining two are Asian countries — Lebanon and Afghanistan being the least two happy nations.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the report, which broadened its analysis of the far-ranging effects of Covid-19.

Since 2002, WHR has used statistical analysis to determine the world's happiest countries.

To determine the world's happiest country, researchers analysed comprehensive Gallup polling data from 149 countries for the past three years.

It specifically monitors performance in six particular categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make your own life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels.