According to the United Nations’ World Happiness Index 2016, India ranks 118th out of 156 countries on a global list of the world’s happiest nations. India was at 111 on the happiness list in 2013 & 117 in 2015. Denmark takes the top spot as the happiest country in the world, displacing Switzerland, according to The World Happiness Report 2016, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United Nations. Rwanda, Benin, Afghanistan, Togo, Syria and Burundi were the least happy countries this year.

The report takes into account GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support and freedom to make life choices as indicators of happiness. Switzerland was ranked second on the list, followed by Iceland (3), Norway (4) and Finland (5).

The report was released ahead of UN World Happiness Day, which is observed on March 20. For the first time, it emphasises a special role for the measurement and consequences of inequality in the distribution of well-being.

India comes below nations like Somalia (76), China (83), Pakistan (92), Iran (105), Palestinian Territories (108) and Bangladesh (110). The US is ranked 13th, coming behind Australia (9) and Israel (11).

“People are happier living in societies where there is less inequality of happiness. They also find that happiness inequality has increased significantly (comparing 2012-2015 to 2005-2011) in most countries, in almost all global regions, and for the population of the world as a whole,” the report said.