The 2025 World Happiness Report highlights a world where social connection, kindness, and trust have become as important to wellbeing as wealth or health. For Australians, the results offer both reassurance and a few causes for reflection.
Australia’s Ranking and Trend
- Australia is ranked 11th globally in happiness (based on life evaluations from 2022–2024).
- Change since early 2010s: Australia was ranked 10th in 2013 — only a slight drop, though happiness has dipped modestly over time.
- Key point: Despite slipping out of the global top 10, Australia remains a world leader in wellbeing.
Australia vs. Countries of Similar GDP
| Country | 2025 Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 11 | Strong social support and healthy life expectancy offset slight drops in life satisfaction. |
| Canada | 18 | Significant drop from 6th in 2013. |
| United Kingdom | 23 | Modest decline over the decade. |
| Germany | 22 | Similar trend to the UK. |
| United States | 24 | Notable decline; happiness inequality growing. |
Key takeaway:
Among wealthy, high-GDP nations, Australia consistently outperforms on happiness, better maintaining social trust and wellbeing even as other peers like the US, UK, and Canada have slipped significantly.
Why the Strong Performance?
According to the report, Australia benefits from:
- High social support — Australians report strong community ties.
- Healthy life expectancy.
- Freedom to make life choices — consistently a top factor in Australia’s high scores.
- Low corruption perceptions compared to global averages.
But:
- Generosity (donating and volunteering) ranks lower than expected for a country of Australia’s wealth.
- Rising loneliness, particularly among young Australians, could threaten future rankings.
Regional Snapshot — Asia-Pacific
While Nordic countries dominate the top 5, Australia and New Zealand are the clear leaders in the Asia-Pacific. No Asian country ranks in the global top 25, the closest being Taiwan (27th) and Singapore (34th). Countries like Japan (55th), South Korea (58th), and China (68th) lag far behind despite comparable or higher GDPs.
Context & Background
The World Happiness Report is an annual publication that ranks countries based on their citizens’ self-reported well-being. It considers various factors, including economic indicators like GDP per capita and non-economic aspects such as social support and freedom. In recent years, the report has emphasised the significance of social connections and acts of kindness in enhancing happiness levels. The 2025 edition highlights a global decline in benevolent behaviours, though regions like South and Southeast Asia have maintained stable levels, underscoring the cultural emphasis on community and support in these areas.
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