The World Happiness Report 2025 has revealed its latest ranking of the happiest countries, covering around 140 nations worldwide, including those in Southeast Asia.
The Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre produces the report in collaboration with Gallup, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the World Happiness Report Editorial Board.
This year’s findings are based on survey data collected between 2022 and 2024, with each country assessed using a minimum sample size of 3,000 respondents. The aim, according to the report’s authors, is to provide a more accurate picture and reduce random sampling errors.
The report measures happiness through six variables:
- GDP per capita
- Healthy life expectancy
- Generosity
- Having someone to rely on
- Freedom to make life choices
- Freedom from corruption
On the global stage, Finland remains the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. In Asia, the United Arab Emirates takes the top spot, followed by Taiwan and Kuwait.
@goodnewsfromindonesia Inilah negara-negara paling bahagia di dunia tahun 2025, Indonesia peringkat berapa ya? #gnfi #gnfinfo #goodnewsfromindonesia #makintahuindonesia #indonesia ♬ Knowledge – Vin Music
Closer to home, Singapore is the happiest country in Southeast Asia, ranking 34th globally and fifth in Asia. Vietnam follows in second place regionally (46th in the world), ahead of Thailand (49th), the Philippines (57th), and Malaysia (64th). Indonesia is placed sixth in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia’s Position and the Debate Around It
In the 2025 report, Indonesia ranks 83rd globally with a score of 5.568. This marks an improvement from the 2023 ranking of 84th, when the country scored 5.277. Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s happiness levels fall below those of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia – but remain above Laos (93rd globally), Myanmar, and Cambodia (124th).
The regional top eight, according to the World Happiness Report 2025, are:
- Singapore – Global rank: 34
- Vietnam – Global rank: 46
- Thailand – Global rank: 49
- Philippines – Global rank: 57
- Malaysia – Global rank: 64
- Indonesia – Global rank: 83
- Laos – Global rank: 93
- Cambodia – Global rank: 124
Not everyone, however, is convinced by Indonesia’s ranking. Speaking to RRI Pro 3 in March 2024, Bagus Riyono, a psychologist at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), questioned the report’s approach. “The report only measures the happiness of a country’s population based on economic indicators,” he argued.
Bagus believes that happiness cannot be fully understood without considering social and emotional aspects. “Even without money, Indonesians will be happy if they have close and good relationships,” he said, noting that this includes bonds between individuals, families, communities, and society at large.
He pointed to long-standing research from Harvard University as support for his view. “According to Harvard, relationships or human connections are key contributors to happiness,” he explained. “That’s why I trust the results of Harvard’s research more than the World Happiness Report, which often has hidden agendas.”
For Indonesians, this perspective may resonate more than the numbers suggest. While the official ranking reflects a mix of economic and social measures, the lived experience, as Bagus highlights, might be shaped by something as simple as shared meals, neighbourhood gatherings, and the ability to count on each other in times of need.
