Happiness index reveals that we are one big ‘happy’ family

According to the Malaysian Happiness Index (MHI), Malaysians remained happy living through the pandemic.

Department of Statistics (DOSM) report reveals that an index score of 6.48 indicates Malaysians were at a happy level in 2021.

The MHI report presents a framework gauging Malaysian’s level of happiness from the physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects.

“Overall, Malaysians are generally happy even though the country was facing challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis,” said Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin.

DOSM implemented the survey from September to November 2021, covering selected residential areas in Malaysia. 

The report defines happiness as a multi-dimensional concept that refers to the satisfaction, happy feeling, pleasure of life and well-being.

Crunching the happiness data

MHI measures 13 components, as shown in the chart below.

The bright spot in the report is the index score of 7.23 for the family component. Religion and spirituality came in the second place, followed by health.

The religion and spiritual components scored the highest number for the Bumiputera ethnic. Meanwhile, the Chinese and Indians scored the highest in family components.

The people living in Labuan emerge as the happiest Malaysians with a score of 9.29; Selangorians scored the lowest at 5.74.

The report also found that people in rural areas are happier than urban dwellers, scoring 6.54 and 6.46, respectively.

The married folk are happiest compared to their single, divorced, or separated counterparts. 

However, the widows’ category scored the lowest with 6.40.

Age-wise, the Malaysians aged 55 to 59 are the happiest, and women scored 0.03 points higher than men on the happiness index.

The most enlightening point of this report is not the numbers but the fact that it reveals the resilience of Malaysians battling the challenges through the pandemic era and coming out ‘happier’.

Malaysia is ranked 81st happiest among the 149 countries, a significant drop from the 35th rank in 2018, according to the 2021 World Happiness Report.

However, in the 2022 report released by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Malaysia climbed 11 spots to 70th rank.