Even Pakistanis are happier than Indians, and they are getting happier

As the International Day of Happiness approaches on March 20, nations are increasingly focusing on not just making their people richer, but also happier. While per capita GDP is a factor, it's not the only one - the happiness quotient is also dependent on life expectancy, social support, absence of corruption in government and business), perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity.The pole position invariably goes to Nordic countries, which have made it a habit to rotate the top spot among themselves - with Finland being the happiest place on the planet this year.

The Americans are a sadder lot now than they were three years back. This despite the fact that Americans are twice as rich as what they were 45 years back and the reasons for their unhappiness are obesity, drug abuse and depression. However, more worrying for the US should be the perceived increase in corruption in both government and business and, even more alarmingly, a decline in their life expectancy by 2 months 12 days between 2014 and 2016.

Indians are getting increasingly unhappy, and the past three years have seen their happiness levels go down substantially, compared to the Chinese, whose happiness quotient has fluctuated in the last three years.

Ironically, Pakistan, a country with an unstable political regime and considered, de facto, a rogue nation for its implicit support to terrorists, seems to be a far happier place than India. What's more intriguing - they have become happier in the last three  years.

West Asia seems to be a far happier place than India, which could explain why hordes of Indians make a beeline for the region, seeking work and immigration opportunities.