THE STAR2
When it comes to how we feel about our well-being, Malaysians can claim a respectable 41st place among 145 countries, territories and areas surveyed by the Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index, according to results released on June 24 that covers the 2014 period.
Coming in behind Australia at 40th and ahead of the UK at 44th, Malaysia moves up 15 spots in the rankings from our 56th placing in the previous index report for 2013.
According to the 2014 report, 24.6% of Malaysians are “thriving” in at least three of the five so-called “well-being elements” in the survey. The country’s overall scores in the five elements are: sense of purpose (51%), social well-being (35%), financial security (34%), community (32%) and physical health (32%).”
The latest scores are definitely an improvement compared to 2013: sense of purpose (20%), social well-being (34%), financial security (28%), community (37%) and physical health (29%), which combined for a total of 24% of Malaysians thriving in at least three of the five elements.
Malaysians can also pat themselves in the back for doing better than the global average, with 17% thriving in three elements or more. Not only, we’re also doing better than the global average percentages in the individual elements: sense of purpose (18%), social well-being (24%), financial security (26%), community (25%) and physical health (24%).
Top and bottom
At the top of the survey is Panama, leading the world in overall well-being for the second year straight. According to the report, 53% of Panama’s residents are thriving in three or more well-being elements.
“People in Panama will report a lot of daily happiness, a lot of daily smiling and laughter, and a lot of daily enjoyment without a lot of stress and worry,” says Dan Witters, who compiled the index.
Meanwhile, the US ranks 23rd, down from 12th place a year earlier. The decline reflects the fact that fewer people reported they were satisfied with their feelings of community, including safety, as well as reporting less positive social ties, says Witters, adding that the addition of 11 more countries and areas in 2014’s index also contributed to the US’ lower ranking.
At the bottom of the rankings was Afghanistan, with 0% of residents considered thriving in well-being areas.
The index was based on interviews with more than 146,000 people aged 15 and older, in 145 countries, territories and areas in 2014. Puerto Rico and Northern Cyprus are among the territories and areas that are not countries that were included in the index.
Residents of the Americas region are the most likely to be thriving in well-being while residents in sub-Saharan Africa are the least likely.
Latin American countries top the list, making up seven of the top 10 countries while Europe leads the world in financial well-being.
Sources: Reuters & Gallup-Healthways Global Well-Being Index
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