Well, it’s official: we’re a miserable bunch. The UN’s World Happiness Report has just been published and it looks like Hong Kong is on a slippery slope, declining once again from last year’s 86th place to now 88th out of 147 countries.
Since 2016, the World Happiness Report has been published on International Day of Happiness (March 20). This year, the ranking looked at 147 countries based on factors such as the GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, freedom, social support, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
Taking the crown for the eighth year in a row is Finland, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Netherlands in the top five.
Looking over at our neighbours, Taiwan leads the pack at 27th place, while Singapore sits at 37th. Thailand lands at number 49 this year, with Japan and Korea ranking 55 and 58 respectively. Hong Kong slips to 88th, dropping two places down from last year’s 86th with a score of 5.491 out of 10.
The annual ranking also examined six measures of benevolence, evaluating counties based on acts such as donating, volunteering, and helping a stranger. According to the report, Hong Kong ranks 43 in making donations – so, we’re grumpy but still kind. Sounds about right.
Here are the 50 happiest countries in the world right now:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Austria
- Canada
- Slovenia
- Czechia
- United Arab Emirates
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Belize
- Poland
- Taiwan
- Uruguay
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Serbia
- Saudi Arabia
- France
- Singapore
- Romania
- Brazil
- El Salvador
- Spain
- Estonia
- Italy
- Panama
- Argentina
- Kazakhstan
- Guatemala
- Chile
- Vietnam
- Nicaragua
- Malta
- Thailand
- Slovakia
Find out more about the 2025 World Happiness Report here.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended reading:
Asia’s first Time Out Market opens in Osaka – here’s what to expect
Hong Kong will start to phase out its iconic bamboo scaffolding
Hong Kong to host The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 in Kai Tak Cruise Terminal this October
G-Dragon is coming to Hong Kong for his Übermensch tour in 2025