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News 27 of 28

World Happiness Report 2026: Finland #1, India #116; Social Media Use Linked to Lower Well-being Among Youth

Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
19 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:Rank 116Score 4.536100,000 people surveyed140 countries
Bodies:University of OxfordGallupUN Sustainable Development Solutions NetworkWorld Inequality Lab
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.World Happiness Report 2026 released: Finland tops ranking for 9th consecutive year; India improves to 116th position.

2.Report identifies six key factors for life evaluations: social support, GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perception of corruption.

3.Social media impact analysis: Heavy use linked to significant decline in youth well-being, with algorithmic feeds and visual content platforms being most harmful.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The World Happiness Report 2026 reveals Finland remains the happiest country, while India ranks 116th. The report highlights a strong negative correlation between excessive social media use and well-being, particularly among adolescent girls, prompting global regulatory discussions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Happiest Country (2026)Finland
India's Rank (2026)116th
India's Life Evaluation Score4.536
Report PublisherWellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford
PartnersGallup and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Sample Size~100,000 people across 140 countries
Unhappiest CountryAfghanistan (147th)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Happiest Country (2026): Finland
  • ›India's Rank (2026): 116th
  • ›Target this Data: Finland's rank (#1 for 9th year), India's rank (#116), India's score (4.536)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford (Publisher)
  • ›Target this Correlation: Negative link between social media use and adolescent well-being

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which institution publishes the annual World Happiness Report?

Q2Statement-basedMedium

Consider the following statements regarding the World Happiness Report 2026:

1. Excessive social media use is associated with lower well-being, particularly among adolescent girls.

2. Platforms based on algorithmic feeds and visual content tend to worsen well-being due to social comparison.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the World Happiness Report 2026, what is India's current rank and life evaluation score?

Q4Application/ImpactHard

What is the primary significance of the World Happiness Report's findings on social media for policy-makers?

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