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This Is the Happiest City in Asia—and It Has One of the Best Airports in the World
Singapore was named the happiest city in East Asia in the Institute for Quality of Life's Happy City Index report.
The city-state scored high marks in economic prosperity, government transparency, and quality education.
Lion City is also known for its thriving food scene, wide selection of luxury hotels, and vibrant local culture.
"Happiness" is a pretty subjective term. What makes me happy (my dog, a warm beach day, and a big bowl of pasta) may not bring the same joy to you. But a few universal truths seem to spark bliss in people regardless of their personal preferences: Access to healthcare, education, green spaces, and a supportive community, to name a few. And, as it turns out, some places cater to happiness a bit better than others. And the Institute for Quality of Life knows exactly where they are.
Each year, the institute releases its Happy City Index, which recognizes "a group of cities committed to cultivating and growing happiness, where education, inclusive policies, the economy, mobility, environmental protection, access to green areas, and innovation are not only important components of official policies but are also evident in the solutions implemented." It added that these solutions "should be tangible for residents and have a direct impact on their quality of life."
And while the index doesn't technically rank the cities in its list, it does hand out "gold," "silver," and "bronze" designations for cities that performed the best. The list, its methodology explained, is based on 82 "indicators of joy," which include factors such as access to education, each city's inclusive policies, the strength of their local economies, environmental regulations, access to green spaces, and work-life balance.
After crunching all the numbers, it named Singapore as the happiest city in Asia, and the third highest ranking in the world.
"Singapore, a city-state unlike any other, stands as a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance, and urban innovation," the organization said in its report. "Home to over 6 million residents, the entire nation is encapsulated within a single, thriving metropolis that spans 734.3 square kilometers. With a staggering budget of [$74.8 billion] in 2024, Singapore continues to push the boundaries of what a modern city can achieve."
Of course, being rich doesn't mean you're happy necessarily. However, Singapore ensures this in other ways, with its "world-renowned universities," government transparency, which includes a "comprehensive open data platform, making 8,086 datasets available for public access," and fantastic healthcare access. "With universal medical insurance and 2.8 doctors per 1,000 residents, healthcare is both accessible and efficient," the report stated. This helps ensure a rather high life expectancy for residents, who, on average, hit 83 years.
Lion City, of course, is known for its vibrant culture. Home to about 5.9 million people, Singapore has a rich food culture that's been influenced by communities all over the continent, a thriving luxury hotel scene, and one of the nicest airports in the world. Not only is it a nice place to live, but it's also a favorite destination among travelers to Asia. But despite welcoming over 16.5 million people in 2024, it boasts a reputation as one of the cleanest cities in the world.
Singapore is joined at the top of the rankings by Copenhagen, which scored the highest total points thanks to its universal health care coverage, its high number of top-ranked universities, and its commitment to the environment. According to the index, Copenhagen is "a leader in green transportation, [where] 69% of all travel in the city is environmentally friendly."
As for other super happy places, Zurich, Switzerland, scored the second-highest total, while Aarhus, Denmark, and Antwerp, Belgium, scored the fourth and fifth-highest, respectively. A number of U.S. cities also made the list, with New York City and Minneapolis earning gold designations. San Diego; Washington, D.C.; Salt Lake City; Columbus, Ohio; Los Angeles; Seattle; Baltimore; San Antonio, Texas;and Nashville earned silver recognition.
You can find the full list of happy cities at the Institute for Quality of Life's website.
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