The 2025 World Happiness Report ranked Malaysia 64th among nations, with it positioned in the middle among Southeast Asian countries. Despite improvements in income and life expectancy, challenges in social cohesion and institutional trust persist. Finland continues to lead globally, highlighting the importance of societal factors in happiness rankings.
According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Malaysia has been ranked 64th, positioning it in the middle tier among Southeast Asian nations. While it outperforms Indonesia, which is ranked 83rd, it falls behind several countries including Singapore at 34th place, Vietnam at 46th, Thailand at 49th, and the Philippines at 57th.
Key determinants for happiness rankings noted in the report include GDP per capita, social support, and personal freedoms, all of which influence the overall happiness of a nation. Finland has maintained its lead as the happiest country globally, followed closely by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Malaysia’s decline in ranking points to growing challenges regarding economic confidence and social well-being. It highlights the importance of benevolence within a country, indicating that unhappiness can lead to populist political movements, which may lean left or right depending on the level of trust among citizens.
The report further reveals that Malaysia’s indicators for generosity and perceived fairness are lower than those of the countries at the top of the list. Despite improvements in income and life expectancy, Malaysia still faces significant challenges in fostering social cohesion and strengthening institutional trust.
In conclusion, while Malaysia’s ranking in the 2025 World Happiness Report places it in the middle among ASEAN countries, it reflects pressing issues regarding social support and trust. The findings underline the need for the country to address economic confidence and enhance social cohesion to improve its overall happiness among citizens.
Original Source: www.malaymail.com
