In a remarkable achievement, Taiwan has been crowned the happiest country in Asia, securing the 27th spot globally in the 2025 World Happiness Report. This marks a significant leap from its previous ranking of 31st, dethroning Singapore as the region’s leader in happiness.
The World Happiness Report, an annual study conducted by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in collaboration with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, evaluates happiness levels across 147 countries. Rankings are based on self-assessed life evaluations, considering factors such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
Taiwan’s rise in the rankings highlights its strong sense of community and social support. The report emphasizes the importance of non-economic factors, such as shared meals and trust in others, as key contributors to happiness. Notably, Taiwanese people report sharing an average of 10.1 meals per week with others, placing them among the top globally in this aspect.
Globally, Finland retained its position as the happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the list.
Taiwan’s achievement underscores the nation’s commitment to fostering well-being and social cohesion, setting an example for other countries in the region and beyond.