The World Happiness Report shows the world’s happiest countries, and Singapore ranked 36th out of 147 countries and regions in the 2026 data, strengthening its position as the highest-ranked country in Southeast Asia.
The World Happiness Report 2026 is a joint publication of Gallup, the Oxford Centre for Happiness Studies, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The countries are ranked by Gallup’s World Public Opinion Survey, which assesses individual life satisfaction. The survey is based on the country’s citizens’ average three-year assessment of their lives, and also factors like GDP, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom of living, generosity, and government integrity are considered.
For this year’s report, shared as well by 8world, the link between social media and happiness was also investigated. The report indicates that moderate use of platforms centred on communication and social connection is associated with higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, excessive use of platforms with algorithm-driven content is related to decreased happiness and worsening mental health. Additionally, researchers believe that the platform design, cultural background, and a strong sense of social belonging play a far greater role in shaping well-being than simply screen time.
