PH is the world’s 69th happiest country

A United Nations report has shown that the Phillipines is much happier this year at 69th place in the world.

The said report, which was released on the International Day of Happiness, reflected that with the score of 5.31 out of 10 this year, the Philippines slightly moved up from being the 71st last year.

The ranking of 156 countries was based on six factors that affect the well-being of its people. These include freedom, generosity, healthy life expectancy, income, social support and trust.

The World Happiness Report 2019 used data from the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Here, participants from the 156 countries were asked to rate how they perceive their lives to be from a scale of 0 to 10 – whether they feel like they’re living the worst or best possible life.

PH happier than other ASEAN countries

This year, the Philippines ranked higher compared to the following ASEAN countries:

• Malaysia – 80th
• Indonesia – 92nd
• Vietnam – 94th
• Laos – 105th
• Cambodia – 109th
• Myanmar 131st

Nearly all Filipinos are ‘very/fairly happy’

Moreover, based on the survey, 87% of Filipinos perceive themselves to be ‘very or fairly happy’. 39% of them says they’re ‘very happy’ while the remaining 48% are ‘fairly happy’.

However, this result turns out to be the lowest in four years after the 85% noted in 2014. Also, from 94% in 2017, the score declined by seven points this year.

Meanwhile, those who were recorded to be unhappy consist 13% who consider themselves not very happy or not at all happy. Unfortunately, this is the highest since 2014 with 15% on record.

Happiest and unhappiest countries among the rest

Finland emerged to be the happiest country in the world for the second time this year, followed by Denmark in second and Norway in third place.

On the other hand, South Sudan, which is greatly affected by conflicts, ended at the bottom of the list.