Courtesy The Daily Mirror

March 19 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy countries in the latest World Happiness Report 2026, placing 134th out of 147 nations with a score of 4.0, highlighting ongoing concerns over the country’s overall well-being.

The report shows that Sri Lanka has slipped one place from its 133rd ranking in 2025, now standing alongside Ethiopia. The country also trails behind its South Asian neighbours, with India ranked 116th, Pakistan and Bangladesh positioned significantly higher.

The World Happiness Report 2026, released on Thursday (March 18), notes that social and economic challenges continue to weigh on nations placed in the lower tier, with Sri Lanka remaining among those struggling to improve public satisfaction and quality of life.

A key focus of this year’s report is the growing impact of social media on well-being, particularly among young people. The study, backed by the United Nations, found that excessive social media use is contributing to declining life satisfaction in many countries, prompting governments to consider regulatory measures.

At the top of the rankings, Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland and Denmark. Costa Rica emerged as a standout performer, climbing to fourth place — the highest ever ranking achieved by a Latin American nation.

The report also highlighted a sharp decline in life satisfaction among people under 25 in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, attributing the trend largely to increased time spent on social media platforms. In contrast, young people in several other regions reported more positive outlooks on life.