SHAH ALAM - Is happiness linked to your relationship status? Malaysia’s latest Happiness Index thinks so and the results may surprise you.
According to the Malaysia Happiness Index 2024 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), everyone’s generally in a good mood (all groups scored above seven out of 10), but some stand out more than others.
Never-married Malaysians top the list with a score of 7.66. Their strongest areas? Family (8.64) and religion or spirituality (8.65).
Maybe it’s the flexibility to spend time with loved ones or the freedom to focus on personal growth. Either way, single life seems to come with a healthy dose of happiness.
Close behind is married at 7.59. They rank highest in family happiness (8.68), but their 'time use' score (7.80) hints at the juggling act between work, home and downtime.
Widowed Malaysians scored 7.56. Their strengths lie in family connections (8.44) and spirituality (8.81), indicating a steady and reflective approach to life.
At 7.36, divorced or separated individuals came in lowest but still within the happy zone.
They excel in religion or spirituality (8.59) and family (8.26), though “culture” lags at 5.54, possibly reflecting lingering social stigma.
Earlier, chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin revealed that Terengganu is the happiest state in Malaysia with a score of 8.64. This achievement placed Terengganu in the 'very happy' category, reflecting a high level of social well-being in the state.
Johor ranked second with a score of 8.08, while Negeri Sembilan was third with 8.01.