Malaysia ranks 64th in the 2025 World Happiness Report, behind several ASEAN countries. The ranking reflects challenges in economic confidence and social well-being, despite improvements in income and life expectancy. Key factors affecting happiness include GDP per capita and social support, with lower indicators for trust and fairness in Malaysia compared to top-ranking countries. Finland leads globally in happiness.
Malaysia’s ranking in the 2025 World Happiness Report stands at 64th, placing it in the middle tier compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Among ASEAN nations, Malaysia is positioned behind Singapore (34th), Vietnam (46th), Thailand (49th), and the Philippines (57th), but ahead of Indonesia (83rd). The rankings were influenced by key factors like GDP per capita, social support, and personal freedoms.
Finland continues to hold the top rank globally, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands rounding out the top five. Malaysia’s downward trend in ranking from previous years indicates ongoing challenges in both economic confidence and social well-being. The report underlines the connection between a country’s benevolence and its political landscape, stating that unhappiness can lead to populism.
It also notes that trust influences political leanings; those who trust others tend to lean left, while those with less trust may align right. Additionally, Malaysia performed poorly on indicators such as generosity and expected fairness when compared to the highest-ranked countries. Although Malaysia has seen improvements in income and life expectancy, it still faces significant challenges in social cohesion and institutional trust that require attention.
Malaysia’s position at 64th in the World Happiness Report reveals a decline in happiness compared to previous years. This ranking highlights issues in economic confidence and social well-being, impacting its overall happiness. Trust and generosity indicators are lower in Malaysia, suggesting a need for enhancements in social cohesion and institutional trust, key areas that could improve the country’s ranking in future reports.
Original Source: www.malaymail.com
