According to the published World Happiness Report for 2025, Taiwan is the happiest place in Asia. Out of 147 places worldwide assessed in 2025, Taiwan ranked 27th, rising from 31st place in 2024 and surpassing Singapore. This year, Northern European countries once again dominate the global happiness ranking, with Finland holding the top position for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
The World Happiness Report, a collaborative project among leading global experts and researchers, bases its happiness rankings on data from the Gallup World Poll. This poll measures self-assessments of life satisfaction over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024. Interestingly, the report highlights how subjective assessments reflect life quality, but also stresses six key factors that provide deeper insights.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of the Wellbeing Research Center at Oxford University and editor of the World Happiness Report for 2025, noted the importance of shared meals in enhancing well-being. He stated, "The report this year urges us to go beyond traditional determinants like health and wealth. It turns out that sharing meals and trust in others are even stronger predictors of well-being than expected."
According to the report, the influence of shared dining on subjective well-being is comparable to factors like income and unemployment. Those who frequently share meals report significantly higher life satisfaction. De Neve explained that many residents of Taiwan frequently enjoy communal dining. In fact, they reported sharing 5.5 dinners out of seven with others, and 4.7 lunches out of seven, totaling 10.1 shared meals out of 14—a figure that places Taiwan eighth in the world among 142 countries surveyed.
In contrast, the report points out that other regions in South and East Asia have recorded a relatively low level of shared meals. For instance, previous studies show an increasing trend toward solitary dining in East Asian countries, especially in Japan and South Korea. Factors contributing to this phenomenon include the rising number of single-person households and an aging population. The report suggests that respondents in these regions might interpret survey points differently, where family members might not be regarded as 'close acquaintances.'
De Neve emphasized the need for renewed social interactions, stating, "In this era of social isolation and political polarization, we must find ways to bring people back to the negotiating table—this is crucial for our individual and collective well-being."
Another notable success this year is Vietnam, which climbed in the global happiness ranking from 54th in 2024 to 46th in 2025. Over the past five years, Vietnam has risen nearly 40 positions from its 83rd place in 2020.
In addition to Taiwan and Vietnam, other happiest places in Asia include Singapore, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, China, and Mongolia. Collectively, these results paint a diverse picture of contentment across the continent, indicating that happiness is influenced by various cultural and social factors.
Ultimately, the findings of the World Happiness Report provide essential insight into what promotes happiness and well-being. The emphasis on community, shared experiences, and trust offers a valuable perspective in a world where individualism often takes precedence.
As countries and regions navigate their unique challenges, embracing the factors that contribute to well-being can pave the way for greater happiness and social cohesion moving forward.
