World Happiness Report 2025 Places India at 118th, Revealing Contrasts in Social Trust and Benevolence
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 21st March 2025: India finds itself at the 118th spot among 143 countries in the latest World Happiness Report 2025, a ranking that offers a window into the nation’s social dynamics, community engagement, and trust in institutions. While the country shows remarkable strength in volunteering, other indicators like social trust and institutional reliability present a more complex narrative.
Mixed Signals in Happiness and Benevolence
India’s overall ranking of 118 on the Cantril Ladder — a measure of life satisfaction — places it behind many nations, yet its performance in prosocial behaviors tells a more nuanced story. The country ranks 57th in donating to charity and an impressive 10th in volunteering. This reflects a deep-rooted culture of community service, where acts of generosity and helping hands in times of crisis remain integral to Indian society.
However, when it comes to helping strangers, India stands at 74th, indicating a gap between organized community actions and spontaneous individual benevolence. The data further reveals a trust deficit in institutional structures. India ranks 115th in the likelihood of a neighbor returning a lost wallet, 86th for strangers, and 93rd when it comes to the police. These figures suggest that while Indians are active in organized acts of kindness, everyday trust in others and public institutions remains fragile.
A Cultural Contrast: Volunteering vs. Institutional Trust
India’s high ranking in volunteering stands out globally. From grassroots movements to large-scale charitable organizations, volunteering often becomes a lifeline during natural disasters, festivals, and public health crises. Yet, this culture of community support does not seem to translate into higher trust in institutions like law enforcement.
The report notes that countries with strong social trust tend to have more equally distributed happiness, while those with weaker trust show greater disparities. India’s data aligns with this observation, where strong familial bonds and local support networks contrast sharply with skepticism toward strangers and public authorities.
South Asian Context and Regional Comparisons
In the South Asian context, India’s ranking is somewhat middling. Sri Lanka ranks 133rd overall but outperforms India in some prosocial behaviors like helping strangers. Bangladesh, at 134th, shows similar patterns to India, indicating that cultural factors may influence these behaviors across the region.
The report highlights that in countries where trust in institutions is low, people tend to rely more on personal networks. India’s numbers mirror this trend — with communities stepping up when public systems falter. Yet, the low trust scores point to a need for institutional reforms to strengthen public confidence.
The Road Ahead: Harnessing Benevolence for Collective Well-being
The World Happiness Report 2025 underlines that fostering prosocial behaviors can mitigate despair and promote well-being. India’s strength lies in its volunteering spirit — a powerful force that could be leveraged to build stronger social bonds and improve trust in public institutions.
Policymakers might find opportunities in these findings to nurture civic engagement while addressing institutional transparency and accountability. Bridging the gap between community-driven benevolence and institutional trust could pave the way for a more cohesive and happier society.
India’s journey in the global happiness landscape is a story of contrasts — a society deeply committed to helping others, yet grappling with trust in everyday interactions and institutions. As the nation looks ahead, the challenge lies in translating its vibrant culture of community service into broader social trust, creating a foundation for a more resilient and joyful future.
