KATHMANDU: Finland has remained the happiest country in the world for the seventh year in a row in 2024.

Finlands’s Nordic neighbors Sweden, Denmark and Iceland also retained their places in the top 10, according to the annual World Happiness Report.

Afghanistan, plagued by a humanitarian catastrophe since the Taliban regained control in 2020 remained in last place.

The survey asks people in 143 countries and territories to evaluate their life on a scale from zero to 10, taking into account factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

New Zealand, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Austria, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Czechia, Lithuania, and the USA are respectively ranked from eleventh to twentieth among the happiest countries in the world.

Singapore holds the 30th position, while Japan follows at 51st. Thailand secures the 58th spot, with Malaysia closely behind at 59th, and China at 60th.

Nepal holds the 93rd position among 143 countries listed. India lags significantly behind Nepal, ranked 126th in the list of happiest countries, with Pakistan ahead at 108th. Sri Lanka ranks at 128th.