KUCHING: Malaysia dropped to 64th place in the latest World Happiness Report from 59th in the previous report.
Malaysia came in 64th out of the 147 nations and territories surveyed in the poll.
It scored 5.955 on the Life Evaluation Index, compared to 5.975 the year before.
The report also noted that Malaysia was among the top four countries in the world where residents report sharing the most meals together.
“Malaysians share approximately 11 meals per week with others,” it said.
Among the nine ASEAN member countries, Malaysia ranked fifth happiest in the 2024 edition of the World Happiness Report.
The report was jointly prepared by prominent analytics and advisory firm Gallup.
Singapore came in first among the ASEAN countries, or at 34th position globally, followed by Vietnam in second place or 46th in the world.
In third place was Thailand, which placed 49th in the global rankings.
Indonesia came in sixth, occupying the 83rd spot, followed by Laos (93rd), Cambodia (124th) and Myanmar (126th).
Brunei was excluded from the survey.
In a statement, Gallup CEO Jon Clifton said happiness was not just about wealth or growth, but about trust, connection, and knowing that “people have your back”.
“This year’s report proves we underestimate how kind the world really is.
“If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters – each other,” he said.
The report, in conjunction with the UN’s International Day of Happiness, was conducted in partnership with the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the World Happiness Report’s editorial board.
About 1,000 individuals are surveyed per year in each country.
