Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy nations in the World Happiness Report 2026.
According to the report, Sri Lanka is placed 134th with a score of 4.0, well behind its Asian neighbours India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka, ranked alongside Ethiopia, has slipped to 134 from the 133rd position reported in 2025.
Finland tops the rankings as the happiest country, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Sweden. Norway, Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, Switzerland, New Zealand, Mexico, Ireland, Belgium, and Australia round off the top 15 happiest nations.
The report, compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, forms part of the annual global happiness survey.
Rankings are determined through the Gallup World Poll, which asks respondents in 147 countries to evaluate their lives using the Cantril Ladder scale, ranging from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life)
Researchers assess six factors—GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity, and perceptions of freedom and corruption—to explain variations among countries. The rankings are based on a three‑year average to smooth out spikes and dips caused by major events such as wars or financial downturns.
Full report: https://files.worldhappiness.report/WHR26.pdf (Newswire)