The pursuit of perceived happiness

India’s ranking in the 2025 World Happiness Report has ignited a discussion about the true meaning of well-being. Critics argue that the report’s global metrics fail to capture India’s unique cultural values, emphasising the importance of social bonds and everyday joys beyond economic indicators. The marginal improvement in India’s global ranking, rising to 118 in WHR 2025 from 126 in 2024, belies a deeper controversy. This apparent disconnect between economic growth and reported subjective well-being, characterised by lower interpersonal trust and reduced social engagement, despite a noted strength in volunteerism, has sparked significant controversy.

Central to this debate is the report’s methodology. Critics argue that its reliance on broad, standardised metrics, derived from survey data across 150 countries, fails to adequately capture India’s nuanced cultural landscape. They suggest that the report’s focus on certain indicators may overlook the profound influence of social and cultural factors, such as compassion and hospitality, on well-being within India’s diverse communities. They contend that India’s strong social bonds, rich cultural fabric, and human values warrant a significantly higher ranking, criticising the report for placing India behind conflict-ridden regions and ignoring the daily realities of its diverse population.

This perceived disconnect between standardised metrics and lived experiences necessitates exploring the intimate and personal sources of well-being within India, shifting the focus beyond purely quantitative measures. These fundamental truths – that social bonds and simple, everyday moments, such as sharing chai with a neighbour or celebrating a vibrant festival are deeply valued as profound sources of joy – are supported by wider scientific understanding.

The evolution of happiness within the family unit serves as a compelling illustration of this principle. Childhood happiness is found in simple joys, where imagination and unburdened exploration create a sense of wonder. Adolescence brings the discovery of identity and the formation of lasting friendships. Couples find deep satisfaction in the journey of building a shared life, enriched by mutual support, shared dreams, and the navigation of life’s challenges together. Elderly couples find a profound contentment in the quiet companionship of their later years, cherishing shared memories and the enduring bonds of a lifetime’s love and experience. Across all these life stages, happiness is consistently rooted in human connection.

Research reinforces this notion, highlighting meaningful relationships and acts of kindness, rather than material wealth, as primary drivers of genuine happiness. These findings resonate with Indian cultural values, emphasising community, spirituality, and inner peace, and suggesting the need for a more culturally sensitive approach to measuring well-being in India.

Interpreting the WHR 2025 necessitates understanding India’s diverse social fabric. Therefore, well-being assessments require refined methodologies that reflect India’s diverse contexts, including metrics for community support and representative data collection, alongside robust public discourse to foster shared understanding and culturally relevant policies.

Societally, initiatives strengthening social connections and belonging are vital, including community programmes, cultural events, and platforms for mutual support. Cultivating a culture that values kindness and everyday joy, alongside addressing systemic inequities, is crucial for counteracting declining social engagement and fostering collective well-being.

An evolving process

A balanced strategy is necessary to enhance well-being in India: refining standardised metrics to reflect diverse experiences and empowering individuals through social integration. Well-being, as indicated by both research and observation, is a continuous process that is influenced by personal decisions, purpose, and relationships, as well as genetic factors.

This observation is not unique to India. In Singapore, despite high rankings in happiness reports and rising income levels, studies reveal a decrease in life satisfaction. This exemplifies the ‘Easterlin Paradox,’ where increased income doesn’t automatically translate to greater happiness, and underscores the importance of financial satisfaction, strong relationships, and a sense of purpose beyond material possessions across diverse contexts.

WHR 2025, highlighting Finland’s continued ranking as the world’s happiest country due to its strong welfare systems and access to nature, reveals that people significantly underestimate the kindness of others. It demonstrates a crucial link between perceived kindness, social trust, and happiness, and notes declining happiness and social trust in the US and parts
of Europe, linking this to political polarisation.

Ultimately, its findings underscore the vital truth that fostering happier societies hinges on recognising and reinforcing the inherent kindness of humanity, requiring us to actively bridge the gap between pessimistic assumptions and the reality of human compassion by investing in social fabric, trust,
and acts of kindness. This calls for a global reassessment of how we measure happiness, prioritising human connection and cultural values over the purely economic metrics.

(The author is an independent writer)