Singapore crowned the happiest country in Asia

Many Singaporeans, us included, would be very content with a kaya toast and teh-c kosong set meal, and perhaps this simple contentment has contributed to the fact that Singapore was named the happiest country in Asia, and 25th in the world in the recent UN’s World Happiness Report 2023.

Of course, it is not to say kaya toast is all there is to happiness. The key factors used to evaluate happiness would be income, health, having a community to rely on, a sense of freedom to make key life decisions, generosity, and the absence of corruption. With general political stability, low crime rates, and excellent healthcare, education, housing, recreation and transport options, it is no doubt Singapore ranks high on the list.

Following closely is Taiwan ranked at 27. Other Asian countries include Japan at 47, Malaysia at 55, Thailand at 60, China at 64, Vietnam at 65, Philippines at 76, Indonesia at 84 and India at 126. Finland tops the list again for the sixth time in a row, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and then Israel.

The report was released on March 20, derived using a global survey with a sample size of 2,000 to 3,000 people from more than 150 countries. The average life evaluations were over a three-year period, which means the report this time effectively assesses the happiness level throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ultimately, happiness is subjective, and even if it is just numbers and statistics, the fact that Singapore came in first is still worth a mention.

Ref: Singapore crowned the happiest country in Asia (timeout)