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Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy countries globally, with the island nation’s rankling dropping one place to 134th, according to the World Happiness Report 2026, published on Thursday.
With an average life evaluation score of 4.013, Sri Lanka is only ahead of 13 other countries in the index, including nations such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Lebanon, Yemen and Afghanistan.
In comparison, Sri Lanka was ranked 133rd in 2025 and 128th in 2024 while the country was placed 112th and 127th in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Every year, the World Happiness Report reveals where people feel most satisfied with their lives, and where they don’t.
The report ranks 147 countries using data from the Gallup World Poll, where respondents score their lives on a scale from 0 to 10, known as the Cantril Ladder. The rankings are based on a three-year average from 2023 to 2025, offering a more stable snapshot of global well-being.
Amid rising geopolitical tensions, 79 countries recorded significant gains in happiness levels from the 2006–2010 base period to 2023–2025.
Finland remains the happiest country in the world in 2026, holding the top spot for the ninth consecutive year.
The Finnish population reported an average life evaluation score of 7.764 out of 10 this year, up 0.375 points from last year.