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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A child tries to hold onto the handrails in a crowded suburban train.

Many factors are taken into account when ranking the happiness of a country. While wealth obviously plays a major part, other important reasons are perception of corruption, freedom, social support, generosity and healthcare.

Let's take a look at some of the happiest nations, according to World Happiness Report, 2013.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A boy shakes his head to remove coloured powder while celebrating Holi in Agartala.

India

Happiness score: 4.772

Overall rank: 111 out of 156

India is ranked a lowly 111 maybe because the tough economic situation has made the outlook bleak. Other factors in play could be rise in corruption cases, deteriorating infrastructure and bad governance.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A dog sits as he waits next to his owner to cross a street in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Denmark

Happiness score: 7.693

Overall rank: 1

Denmark, one of the wealthiest economies in the world, enjoys the top spot primarily due to its excellent infrastructure, safety net, good governance and social equality.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Royal Palace at the end of Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.

Norway

Happiness score: 7.655

Overall rank: 2

Norway, which has some of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world, is one of the least unequal countries, provides excellent governance and enjoys low corruption.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of Geneva and Lake Leman, Switzerland.

Switzerland

Happiness score: 7.650

Overall rank: 3

Switzerland, which attracts some of the richest investors in the world, is a stable, prosperous and competitive country.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
People sit on a quay at the Leliegracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The Netherlands

Happiness score: 7.512

Overall rank: 4

The Netherlands, one of the richest economies in the world, is an open society, has low corruption and world-class healthcare.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of Stockholm, Sweden.

Sweden

Happiness score: 7.480

Overall rank: 5

Sweden, one of the most liberal countries, has excellent infrastructure, good governance and low corruption.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Snowboarders ride a chair lift on one of the many snow runs during night skiing on Grouse Mountain with the city of Vancouver, British Columbia down below, Canada.

Canada

Happiness score: 7.477

Overall rank: 6

Canada, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is witnessing a boom in economy.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Tourists take part in the reindeer safari at Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, northern Finland.

Finland

Happiness score: 7.389

Overall rank: 7

Finland, one of the most developed countries in the world, is constantly ranked high in Human Development Index.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Tourists photograph each other in the Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt.

Austria

Happiness score: 7.369

Overall rank: 8

Austria, one of the most prosperous countries in the world, has world-class infrastructure, competitive economy and excellent healthcare.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Children skate on the ice of the frozen Tjoernin lake in central Reykjavik, Iceland.

Iceland

Happiness score: 7.355

Overall rank: 9

Iceland, which has a population of 320,000, is a free-market economy with low corporate taxes.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Large whale-shaped kites and others fly above a crowd gathered for the Festival of the Winds on Sydney's Bondi Beach, Australia.

Australia

Happiness score: 7.350

Overall rank: 10

Australia, the 12th-largest economy in the world, is also one of the wealthiest.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of Tel Aviv with the Mediterranean Sea in the background, Israel.

Israel

Happiness score: 7.301

Overall rank: 11

Israel, whose financial center is Tel Aviv, has the highest standard of living in the Middle East.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Red Metal Church in Grecia, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica

Happiness score: 7.257

Overall rank: 12

Costa Rica, which has been ranked as the greenest country in the world, has a good record on Human Development Index.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand

Happiness score: 7.221

Overall rank: 13

New Zealand, whose major exports are dairy products, meat and wine, enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world.

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September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Motorists drive along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates

Happiness score: 7.144

Overall rank: 14

United Arab Emirates, which holds one of the biggest reserves of oil and gas, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Vehicles drive on a street around the centre of Panama City, Panama.

Panama

Happiness score: 7.143

Overall rank: 15

Panama, which earns a lot from Panama Canal, is one of the fastest growing economies in Central America.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of downtown Mexico City, Mexico.

Mexico

Happiness score: 7.088

Overall rank: 16

Mexico, one of the largest economies in the world, carries out most of its trade with the United States.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Pedestrians sit in a viewing area on the High Line park in New York City, United States.

United States

Happiness score: 7.082

Overall rank: 17

United States, the biggest economy in the world, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the globe.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A woman cycles past the 'Coffee To Get Her' restaurant near Dublin city centre which becomes a bar and club in the evenings, Ireland.

Ireland

Happiness score: 7.076

Overall rank: 18

Ireland, which is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is highly ranked for press, economic and political freedom.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Petrusse River near old fortifications of the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Luxembourg

Happiness score: 7.054

Overall rank: 19

Luxembourg, which has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, has a population of 524,853.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
People have a drink at 360, a three-tiered rooftop bar, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Venezuela

Happiness score: 7.039

Overall rank: 20

Venezuela, which has huge gas and oil reserves, is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
People rest in the Parc du Cinquantenaire of Brussels, Belgium.

Belgium

Happiness score: 6.967

Overall rank: 21

Belgium, which has a population of 11 million, is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
A view of Piccadilly Circus in central London, United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

Happiness score: 6.883

Overall rank: 22

United Kingdom, one of the main financial centres of the world, is one of the developed countries in the world.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Sea water shoots out of a crevice in the rocks, known as a 'Blowhole', in Mughsail Beach in Salalah, Oman.

Oman

Happiness score: 6.853

Overall rank: 23

Oman, whose economy relies to a large extent on oil, fishing and agriculture, is one of the most developed and stable countries in the Middle East.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
Tourists take pictures with the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in the background in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil

Happiness score: 6.849

Overall rank: 24

Brazil, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is a major manufacturing and export powerhouse.

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Is India among the happiest countries? Find out...

September 12, 2013 08:21 IST
An aerial view shows the Arc de Triomphe, centre, and rooftops of residential buildings in Paris, France.

France

Happiness score: 6.764

Overall rank: 25

France, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, provides excellent healthcare, social security and infrastructure.