Vietnam ranks as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report, moving up to 46th globally. Finland remains the happiest nation, while the U.S. has dropped to 24th. Key influences on happiness include trust and social support, with rising loneliness among youth being a notable concern.
According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, released on March 21, 2025, Vietnam has emerged as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia, following Singapore. The report ranks 143 countries and territories, showcasing Vietnam’s significant rise from the 54th position in 2023 to 46th globally, classifying it as one of this year’s top gainers in Asia, alongside China, Mongolia, and the Philippines.
Finland maintained its position as the happiest nation for the eighth consecutive year, with Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, dominating the top four ranks. European nations generally performed well, occupying many of the top 20 slots in the rankings, while Israel ranked eighth despite ongoing conflicts. Costa Rica and Mexico broke into the top 10 for the first time, securing the sixth and tenth positions respectively.
Conversely, the United States reached its lowest-ever ranking at 24th, with a notable increase in Americans dining alone, which rose by 53 percent over the past two decades. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the least happy country, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
The rankings derive from self-reported life satisfaction assessments collected by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board. Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, highlighted that happiness transcends wealth, emphasizing the importance of trust, social connections, and community support in fostering happiness.
Happiness is influenced by various factors, including health, wealth, and simpler elements such as sharing meals and trusted social support. Trusting others’ kindness is highly correlated with happiness, as those who believe that a lost wallet would be returned reported greater life satisfaction. However, the report noted a rise in concerning trends, with 19 percent of young individuals worldwide in 2023 indicating they had no one to rely on for social support, marking a 39 percent increase since 2006.
In summary, Vietnam’s significant advancement in the World Happiness Report positions it as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of happiness, emphasizing social connections and community support alongside economic factors. The concerning trend regarding social support among youth highlights an area that requires attention to improve overall life satisfaction.
Original Source: asianews.network
