Vietnam's happiness index has increased dramatically, setting a new record.

Happiness index map of countries around the world with dark colors showing high index

AXIOS SCREENSHOT

The World Happiness Report 2025 shows that Vietnam ranks 46th, a positive improvement compared to 54th place in 2024, 65th place in 2023, and is second only to Singapore in Southeast Asia.

In the above report, released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network on International Day of Happiness (March 20), Vietnam is among 19 countries with an increase in the index, including Vietnam, the Philippines, China and Mongolia in Asia. This is Vietnam's best ranking since the report was first published in 2012.

The remaining countries in the above group include 12 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, 2 countries in Africa and Nicaragua in Latin America.

In Asia, Singapore stands out at 34th place. Countries in the region ranked after Vietnam include Thailand (49), Japan (55), Philippines (57), South Korea (58), Malaysia (64), China (68), Indonesia (83), Laos (93), India (118) and Cambodia (124).

The report also found that the US dropped to its lowest position ever, partly due to the rise in people eating alone. The US dropped to 24th place, its lowest score since the report was first published in 2012, when it recorded its highest position at 11th. The UK (23) and Germany (22) were next.

“The number of people dining alone in the US has increased by 53% over the past two decades,” the report said, noting that sharing a meal “is strongly linked to happiness.”

The report surveyed people around the world between 2022 and 2024, before US President Donald Trump's domestic and foreign policy changes since returning to the White House in January.

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the eighth year in a row, with locals and experts crediting its large lakes and strong welfare system for helping to improve people's moods.

The Nordic countries are all in the top 10 happiest, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden behind Finland, which has widened its lead over runner-up Denmark. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, coming in at number six and number 10 respectively.

The happiness index is based on a three-year average of individuals' self-reported life satisfaction, as well as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

The bottom group includes Lebanon (145), Sierra Leone (146) and Afghanistan (147).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/viet-nam-lai-tang-vuot-bac-ve-chi-so-hanh-phuc-lap-ky-luc-moi-185250320073537076.htm