Singapore has been named the happiest country in Asia for the second consecutive year, as per the 2024 World Happiness Report released recently. This report, which ranks countries based on the subjective quality of life ratings given by individuals, is a collaborative effort of leading researchers and well-being scientists around the world. The ranking is determined using data from the Gallup World Poll, which collects average life evaluations over a span of three years.
According to the report, the top 10 happiness rankings in Asia are as follows: Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Mongolia. These rankings are based on factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, generosity, and perception of corruption. The data for these factors is gathered from reputable organizations such as the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Gallup World Poll.
Singapore excelled in various factors such as GDP per capita and perception of corruption, with one of the highest rankings in the dataset and the lowest perception of corruption among all countries. This indicates that the Singaporean government is considered clean, and the people have a very low perception of corruption. Despite these positive aspects, Singapore falls short in terms of perceived social support, freedom to make life choices, and generosity.
Although Singapore performs well in objective indicators such as healthy life expectancy, it ranks lower in subjective factors like social support and freedom. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University and editor of the report, stated that Singapore is “punching below its weight” in the happiness rankings. He encouraged the government and the people of Singapore to leverage the city-state’s strengths to enhance the overall quality of life for its residents.
De Neve further emphasized the need for the Singaporean government and its citizens to work together to find ways to elevate the country’s position in the World Happiness Report. Despite the impressive performance in certain areas, there is room for improvement in enhancing social support, freedom, and generosity within the society. CNBC attempted to reach out to the Singapore government for comment on this matter, but did not receive an immediate response.
In contrast, India, the world’s most populous nation, ranked significantly lower at 126th out of 143 places surveyed. This stark difference highlights the disparities in happiness levels among countries in the region and underscores the importance of subjective well-being factors in overall life satisfaction.
Singapore’s ranking as the happiest country in Asia is a testament to its economic prosperity and lower corruption perception. However, there are areas where Singapore can make improvements to enhance the overall happiness and well-being of its residents. By addressing issues related to social support, freedom, and generosity, Singapore can continue its upward trajectory in the World Happiness Report and set an example for other nations to follow.
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