Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy countries in the World Happiness Report 2026, placing 134th with a score of 4.0.
According to the report, Sri Lanka lags behind regional neighbours India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The country has slipped one position from 133rd in 2025 to 134th this year, ranking alongside Ethiopia.
Finland was named the happiest country in the world, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Sweden. Other countries in the top 15 include Norway, Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, Switzerland, New Zealand, Mexico, Ireland, Belgium, and Australia.
The report is compiled by the Wellbeing Research Centre and is based on data from the Gallup World Poll, which surveys respondents in 147 countries using the Cantril Ladder scale to evaluate life satisfaction from 0 (worst possible life) to 10 (best possible life).
Researchers assess factors such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity, and perceptions of freedom and corruption to explain differences among countries. Rankings are calculated using a three-year average to minimize the impact of short-term events such as conflicts or economic crises.
