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.
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