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In conjunction with World Gratitude Day on 21 September, Malaysia’s latest report offers a timely reflection on how gratitude may be fueling national joy.
Malaysia's Department of Statistics has released its Happiness Index (MHI) 2024, which revealed that the nation has entered the 'Happy' category, with a score of 7.60.
The MHI 2024 survey is based on the Malaysia Happiness Survey, which measures happiness across four key dimensions: physical, social, emotional and spiritual. The index comprises 94 indicators grouped into 13 happiness components, which help to evaluate quality of life in Malaysia.
Based on the survey findings, the Malaysia Happiness Index score in 2024 was at a 'happy' level with a score of 7.60. Overall, two components were at a 'very happy' level and the remaining 11 components were at a 'happy' level between a score of 6.22 to 7.82. Analysis by component showed that the highest index score recorded was the religion and spiritual which was 8.69 and family component (8.64) with a very happy scale.
The lowest index score was recorded by culture component with a score of 6.22. The score of the remaining components were time use (7.82), education (7.81), health (7.79), housing and environment (7.67), working life (7.58), social participation (7.56), public safety (7.51), communication facilities (7.34), emotional (7.09) and income (6.40).
Here is a breakdown of the results of the report:
Happiness Index score by component
- Religion and spiritual: 8.69
- Family: 8.64
- Time use: 7.82
- Education: 7.81
- Health: 7.79
- Housing and environment: 7.67
- Working life: 7.58
- Social participation: 7.56
- Public safety: 7.51
- Communication facilities: 7.34
- Emotional: 7.09
- Income: 6.40
- Culture: 6.22
Happiness Index score by sex
- Men: 7.57
- Women: 7.62
The happiness index score for females (7.62) was higher than males (7.57). There were eight out of 13 components in which female members of the population scored higher as compared to male members, including family and religion:
Happiness Index score by age group (from highest to lowest score)
- 15 – 19 years: 7.79
- 60 – 64 years: 7.64
- 55 – 59 years: 7.62
- 50 – 54 years: 7.59
- 25 – 29 years: 7.58
- 30 – 34 years: 7.58
- 45 – 49 years: 7.58
- 20 – 24 years: 7.57
- 40 – 44 years: 7.56
- 35 – 39 years: 7.55
- 65 years and over: 7.54
The happiness index score by age group showed that all age groups were at a happy level and the highest index score was for the age group 15 to 19 years (7.79). Meanwhile, the age group of 65 and over recorded the lowest score, which was 7.54.
The age group of 15 to 19 years recorded four components at the very happy level, namely:
- family
- religion and spiritual
- time use
- health
Meanwhile, the age group of 65 years and over recorded three components at the very happy level namely:
- religion and spiritual
- family
- time use
The age group of 65 years and over also recorded two components with a moderately happy level, namely culture with a score of 5.87 and income (5.86).
Happiness Index score by education attainment
- Tertiary: 7.67
- Secondary: 7.62
- Primary: 7.58
- No formal education: 7.29
These findings indicate that all educational attainment was at a happy level. Tertiary education recorded three components at a very happy level, namely the:
- family component with a score of 8.89,
- religion and spiritual (8.71), and
- education (8.08).
Meanwhile, no formal education recorded two components at a very happy level, namely:
- religion and spirituality (8.63), and
- family (8.31).
All components recorded score at happy and very happy, except income component for no formal education (5.95) and primary education (5.94) as well as culture component for tertiary education level (5.94).
Happiness Index score by states
- Terengganu: 8.64
- Johor: 8.08
- Negeri Sembilan: 8.01
- Pahang: 7.92
- Melaka: 7.83
- Perak: 7.83
- Kedah: 7.68
- Perlis: 7.65
- Sabah: 7.0
- W.P Putrajaya: 7.55
- Sarawak: 7.53
- Kelantan: 7.24
- W.P Kuala Lumpur: 7.22
- Selangor: 7.21
- Pulau Pinang: 7.19
- W.P Labuan: 7.00
The happiness index score by state recorded three states at the very happy level, namely Terengganu (8.64), Johor (8.08) and Negeri Sembilan (8.01).
Terengganu
Terengganu was the state that recorded the highest MHI score of 8.64 at a very happy level. Most of the MHI components were at a very happy level namely:
- religion and spiritual (9.45),
- family (9.31),
- education (8.95),
- time use (8.94),
- working life (8.82),
- health (8.81),
- housing and environment (8.77),
- social participation (8.76),
- public safety (8.68), and
- communication facilities (8.62).
Meanwhile, three components scores at a happy level namely culture, income (both at 7.96) and emotional (7.39).
Johor
Johor was in the second place on the very happy level with a MHI score of 8.08. Nine components recorded MHI scores at a very happy level namely:
- family (9.16),
- religion and spiritual (9.07),
- working life (8.45),
- time use (8.34),
- social participation (8.25),
- health (8.22),
- public safety (8.17),
- housing and environment (8.09),
- and education (8.07).
Meanwhile, the remaining components recorded MHI scores at a happy level namely communication facilities (7.69), emotional (7.48), income (7.10) and culture (6.61).
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan registered third place with MHI score of 8.01 at a very happy level. Seven components recorded MHI score at a very happy level namely:
- family (9.03),
- religion and spiritual (8.70),
- health (8.35),
- time use (8.11),
- social participation (8.10),
- public safety (8.10), and
- working life (8.06).
Meanwhile, other components were at a happy level namely education with a score of 8.00, housing and environment (7.84), communication facilities (7.70), income (7.33), culture (7.31) and emotional (6.72).
Top 10 administrative districts with the highest Happiness Index score
Out of 156 administrative districts in Malaysia, 36 districts were at the very happy level scoring between 8.02 to 9.83. Top 10 administrative districts recording highest MHI scores are Kluang with a score of 9.83, followed by:
- Raub (9.52),
- Mersing (9.50),
- Marang (9.49),
- Lipis (9.15),
- Ranau (9.13),
- Setiu (9.06),
- Kuala Nerus (9.03),
- Kunak (8.97), and
- Kemaman (8.79).
The World Happiness Report (WHR) measures happiness through the Cantril Ladder of Life Evaluation Scale.
In both 2022 and 2025, Singapore retained its position as the happiest country in ASEAN, scoring 6.57 in 2025. It was followed by Vietnam (6.35), Thailand (6.22), Philippines (6.11), Malaysia (5.96), Indonesia (5.62), Laos (5.30), Cambodia (4.34), and Myanmar (4.32).
Malaysia, which ranked fourth in 2022 with 5.71, moved down by one position to fifth in 2025 despite improving its score by 0.25 points.
As Malaysia celebrates its entry into the “Happy” category, the timing of this report — just ahead of World Gratitude Day on 21 September — offers a meaningful reminder: happiness is not merely a statistical achievement, but a reflection of collective appreciation. Whether it's the strength of family bonds, the comfort of spiritual life, or the value of time well spent, the data suggests that gratitude may be the quiet force behind Malaysia’s rising joy.
On this World Gratitude Day, perhaps the most powerful takeaway is this — when a nation learns to appreciate what it has, happiness follows.
We at HRO would like to wish our readers a happy World Gratitude Day. May this day inspire you to pause, reflect, and appreciate the moments, people, and experiences that bring joy into your life — because gratitude is the first step toward lasting happiness.
Lead image & infographics / DOSM
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