The World Happiness Report is a publication containing articles and a ranking of countries according to national happiness, based on surveys where residents rate their own living conditions. The ranking is based on criteria such as life expectancy, social support, economic stability, and community support.
A Ranking of the Happiest Countries
The first publication of the report dates back to 2012 in the occasion of a United Nations meeting to evaluate the state and criteria of happiness and misery worldwide. Since 2016, it has been published annually, and since 2024, the report has been published by a research lab at the University of Oxford.
This year, the Nordic countries continue to top the ranking, with Finland in first position for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, Sweden, and Norway. Afghanistan is in the last position, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.
One of the Greatest Progressions on a Global Scale
In the ranking, Vietnam has one of the greatest progressions since its publication. In 2016, Vietnam was in 96th position out of the 147 countries in the ranking. It then steadily climbed in the ranking, becoming 83rd in 2020, 79th in 2021, 77th in 2022, 65th in 2023, 54th in 2024, 46th in 2025, and finally 45th this year.
Vietnam and Singapore are the only two Southeast Asian countries to be in the top 50 of the ranking. Vietnam received a score of 6.428/10, placing it among the 21 countries that have most increased their level of happiness compared to the period of 2006-2010. Countries that have recorded the highest increase include Serbia, Bulgaria, Georgia, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
The evolution of Vietnam contrasts with the trend in several Western countries that have declined in the ranking, especially among those under 25 who, according to the report, are less happy due to increased use of social networks. Vietnam, on the other hand, has seen an acceleration of economic growth, higher quality of life, and greater social stability.
