Vietnam ranks as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia, improving to 46th globally in the 2025 World Happiness Report. Finland remains the happiest nation for the eighth year, while the U.S. faces a historic low at 24th. Trust and social connections are vital to happiness, yet many youths report lacking support.
Vietnam has been recognized as the second happiest country in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report unveiled recently. This year, Vietnam improved its global ranking from 54th in 2023 to 46th. The report highlighted Vietnam as one of Asia’s notable gainers, together with China, Mongolia, and the Philippines.
For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been named the world’s happiest nation. The report indicates a strong presence of Nordic countries, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden following Finland in the top four positions. Europe generally exhibited strong performance, securing most places in the top 20.
Israel, enduring ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, ranked eighth. Notably, Costa Rica and Mexico made their first appearances in the top 10, achieving sixth and tenth places, respectively. In contrast, the United States has reached its lowest recorded ranking at 24th, attributed to a significant increase of 53 percent in Americans dining alone over the past twenty years.
At the bottom end of the happiness scale, Afghanistan remains the least happy country, followed by Sierra Leone and Lebanon. Rankings were established through assessments of life satisfaction provided by residents, aided by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford along with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, highlighted that true happiness transcends mere financial wealth. He stated, “Happiness isn’t just about wealth or growth – it’s about trust, connection and knowing people have your back.” He encouraged investment in communal bonds for fostering stronger communities and economies.
The report identified various factors contributing to happiness, such as health, wealth, and simple joys like shared meals and the presence of trusted social support. Moreover, trust in others’ kindness was significantly linked to happiness, as individuals who believe in the likelihood of recovering a lost wallet reported higher satisfaction.
However, the trend reveals a troubling statistic: 19 percent of young people globally reported lacking social support in 2023, reflecting a 39 percent increase since 2006.
The 2025 World Happiness Report indicates Vietnam’s remarkable rise in happiness ranking, now second in Southeast Asia. Highlighting the importance of trust and community, the report reveals a concerning decline in social support for youth globally. Finland continues to hold the title of the happiest nation, while the United States faces challenges in well-being as social disconnect increases among its population.
Original Source: asianews.network
