Thailand Rises in World Happiness Rankings
Thailand has improved its spot to become the 58th happiest nation globally, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report, moving up two places from the previous year.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand is the fourth happiest country, with Singapore leading, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam. Singapore is also the happiest country in Asia, trailed by Taiwan and Japan, with Thailand in seventh place for the continent.
Finland continues to hold the title of the world's happiest country, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel rounding out the top five.
Conversely, the least happy countries are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.
The report, which celebrates International Day of Happiness on March 20th, assesses 143 countries on factors such as GDP, social support, healthy life expectancy, personal freedoms, charitable giving, and levels of corruption.
The UN created International Day of Happiness in 2012 to acknowledge the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental human aim.
Sasima Phaibool, 38, who has a psychosocial disability, says happiness comes from being carefree and following one's passions, with valued companionship turning into precious memories.
Remaining adaptable in thought and action helps her manage the uncontrollable and focus on the positive, she notes.
Kunatch Sirisomboonwech, with a hearing impairment, finds happiness in the sensory experiences of sports, games, and food, feeling that joy is an internal sensation.
Thanapat Laohapasert, 25, with a physical disability, believes relationships are key to happiness, relying on support from others for shared experiences like attending concerts that heighten his joy. However, he acknowledges that disability presents obstacles to happiness.
Finland continues to hold the title of the world's happiest country, with Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel rounding out the top five.
Conversely, the least happy countries are Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.
The report, which celebrates International Day of Happiness on March 20th, assesses 143 countries on factors such as GDP, social support, healthy life expectancy, personal freedoms, charitable giving, and levels of corruption.
The UN created International Day of Happiness in 2012 to acknowledge the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental human aim.
Sasima Phaibool, 38, who has a psychosocial disability, says happiness comes from being carefree and following one's passions, with valued companionship turning into precious memories.
Remaining adaptable in thought and action helps her manage the uncontrollable and focus on the positive, she notes.
Kunatch Sirisomboonwech, with a hearing impairment, finds happiness in the sensory experiences of sports, games, and food, feeling that joy is an internal sensation.
Thanapat Laohapasert, 25, with a physical disability, believes relationships are key to happiness, relying on support from others for shared experiences like attending concerts that heighten his joy. However, he acknowledges that disability presents obstacles to happiness.
