Taiwan was ranked the fourth-happiest country in Asia, the second-happiest in East Asia and 27th in the world, in the World Happiness Report released on Monday by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The report compiled data from surveys conducted in more than 150 countries and territories to measure happiness based on average evaluations over a three-year period. It used six factors — social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption — to evaluate happiness levels in countries around the world.
In the broad Asia grouping, Taiwan trailed Israel (No. 4 globally), Singapore (No. 25) and the United Arab Emirates (No. 26), but ranked second for East Asia behind Singapore and ahead of Japan (No. 47).
Photo: CNA
In the previous report, Taiwan was ranked fourth in the broader Asia grouping, after Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, while ranking No. 1 among countries in East Asia.
Worldwide, Taiwan ranked No. 27, down one spot from a year earlier.
Finland, with a population of 5.5 million and which boasts a comprehensive welfare system, a high degree of equality and a high level of trust in the government by its citizens, was ranked as the No. 1 happiness country in the world for the sixth consecutive year, ahead of Denmark, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg and New Zealand.
The Nordic country and its neighbors Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway scored well because they “all have high ranks for both happiness and equality,” the report said.
“The Nordic countries merit special attention in light of their generally high levels of both personal and institutional trust,” it said.
The US was ranked the 15th-happiest country, while China and Hong Kong were ranked 64th and 82nd respectively.
Despite being invaded by Russia, Ukraine’s happiness ranking rose to 92nd, from 98th a year earlier. Russia was ranked 70th.
“Despite the magnitude of suffering and damage in Ukraine, life evaluations in September 2022 remained higher than in the aftermath of the 2014 annexation [of Crimea], supported by a stronger sense of common purpose, benevolence and trust in the Ukrainian leadership,” the report said.
Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the report, and has been ranked the unhappiest nation since 2020, when US troops began withdrawing from the country.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by