PUTRAJAYA, Sept 12 — Malaysia is officially smiling brighter in 2024, with the nation’s latest Happiness Index scoring an impressive 7.60, firmly placing the country in the “happy” category. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) announced the findings as part of the Malaysia Happiness Index (MHI) 2024 — a pivotal measure of national well-being rooted in the country’s people-first development vision.
This year’s report isn’t just a set of numbers — it’s a reflection of how Malaysians are feeling across four key areas of life: physical, social, emotional, and spiritual. These four dimensions are broken down into 94 indicators grouped into 13 meaningful components, making this survey one of the most detailed tools ever developed to assess happiness in Malaysia.
For the first time, happiness is being mapped right down to the state and district levels. Among the happiest states are Terengganu (8.64), Johor (8.08), and Negeri Sembilan (8.01). At the district level, Kluang (9.83), Raub (9.52), and Mersing (9.50) lead the pack, scoring impressively high.
Interestingly, there is almost no gap between urban (7.61) and rural (7.56) happiness, reflecting a shared sense of well-being across the country — regardless of zip code.
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Chief Statistician of Malaysia, called this a “micro-level milestone” that could revolutionize how policies are created — by grounding them in how people actually live and feel.
So, what makes Malaysians happy? The top contributors are Religion and Spirituality (8.69) and Family (8.64) — reaffirming that deeper connections and support systems matter most. Meanwhile, Culture, although the lowest scoring component at 6.22, still sits within the happy range, hinting at untapped potential in cultural engagement.
When it comes to gender and age, the data reveals something beautiful: Women (7.62) are slightly happier than men (7.57), and the 15 to 19-year-olds (7.79) are the happiest among all age groups.
A Gentle Reminder from the Data:
Behind every data point is a story, a smile, a sigh of relief, or a moment of connection. These numbers are not just statistics — they are our lives, our families, our spiritual strength, and our communities. Let this be a wake-up call to keep investing in human happiness, not just economic numbers.
Because in the end, a happy nation isn’t built on policies alone, but on people who feel seen, supported, and hopeful.
