Thailand's Smile Fades: Nation's Global Happiness Rank Falls

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Thailand's cherished title as the Land of Smiles faces jeopardy as a new global happiness ranking places the nation at 49th. While this signifies a five-place improvement from last year, Thailand still lags behind regional peers like Singapore and Vietnam, casting concerns over the nation's overall well-being.

 

Released on the United Nations International Day of Happiness, the World Happiness Report highlights a concerning global trend. In the United States and parts of Europe, happiness and social trust are on the decline, fuelling political fractures.

 

Meanwhile, Finland secures its spot as the world's happiest country for the eighth straight year, followed closely by other Nordic nations, including Denmark and Sweden. The once-optimistic United States has now slipped to 24th place, its lowest rank ever.

 

The report, compiled using data from Gallup World Poll surveys conducted across more than 140 countries, assesses happiness based on six key factors: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceived corruption.

 

 

In explaining the success of Finland and other Nordic countries, Ilana Ron-Levey, Gallup's managing director, credits their robust social safety nets, accessible healthcare, and quality education systems. These nations foster strong community ties, leading to lower inequality and higher levels of happiness.

 

Interestingly, Costa Rica and Mexico have emerged as unexpected success stories, entering the top ten at sixth and tenth, respectively. These Latin American nations benefit from solid social networks and high trust in leadership, allowing them to surpass economic giants like the US and UK.

 

In contrast, both the US and UK have seen their happiness rankings diminish, standing at 24th and 23rd, respectively. Young people appear to be at the heart of this downward trend, with under-30s reporting less support and optimism about their futures.

 

In Thailand, the slipping happiness ranking highlights areas needing attention. While economic growth is important, fostering community connections, reducing corruption, and enhancing public trust are essential to boosting national well-being. For a cultural reset, John Helliwell, a founding editor of the report, suggests adopting a rosier outlook towards fellow citizens to improve day-to-day interactions and political dialogues.

 

As Thailand strives to reclaim its status as the Land of Smiles, the Nordic model offers valuable lessons. Building community trust and looking beyond material success could pave the way for a happier and more united nation, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-20

 

 

[ikke1959]

Unfortunately the smiles are long gone in Thailand.. surely after 20 years management by military junta. And still no progress to enter the 21st century...and the poor daily wages and rising prices

 

[Jim1000]

53 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Unfortunately the smiles are long gone in Thailand.. surely after 20 years management by military junta. And still no progress to enter the 21st century...and the poor daily wages and rising prices

 

Well I think I prefer a  weak non military smile to the ones the boys in green give you .

[save the frogs]

one of the biggest bs fake news article ongoing stories ... happiness index

a lot of people in thailand have hard lives

just saw like 10 people on the back of a truck. lord knows how hard they must be toiliing for barely any money. 

 

[Harrisfan]

Why do Fins look so miserable?

[Olav Seglem]

4 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Why do Fins look so miserable?

Its disguise.

If they laughed and smiled 24/7 all world will come finland and they will be to busy teaching skiing and sauna, and no time be happy 🙂

 

[bkk6060]

More and more it seems people here are not friendly.   I think it use to be better, but places like Pattaya and Bangkok I do no see much happiness. 

Places like Hua Hin from my experience are friendlier.

[Aforek]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Why do Fins look so miserable?

may be the happiest country, but very cold weather and in winter in Helsinki it's night at about 2. pm 

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Unfortunately the smiles are long gone in Thailand.. surely after 20 years management by military junta. And still no progress to enter the 21st century...and the poor daily wages and rising prices

 

 

...and the incessantly whining clique of geriatric 'resident tourists'.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

one of the biggest bs fake news article ongoing stories ... happiness index

a lot of people in thailand have hard lives

just saw like 10 people on the back of a truck. lord knows how hard they must be toiliing for barely any money. 

 

 

they were burmese, not thai

[NanLaew]

With the Brits happiness dropping and the Thai happiness rising, should be fun in about a dozen more years or so.

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

...and the incessantly whining clique of geriatric 'resident tourists'.

because of people who makes comments like this....

[BayArea]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

More and more it seems people here are not friendly.   I think it use to be better, but places like Pattaya and Bangkok I do no see much happiness. 

Places like Hua Hin from my experience are friendlier.

when you are barely getting by, and the economy is bleak while the cost of living is increasing, the smiles are less and less. 2025 will not be any better for the average Thai.

[BayArea]

5 hours ago, BayArea said:

when you are barely getting by, and the economy is bleak while the cost of living is increasing, the smiles are less and less. 2025 will not be any better for the average Thai.

Bangkok post-the economy is waiting to hit an iceberg

 

"All these conditions will converge in 2025: (1) fragile economy, (2) frozen financial sector and (3) over-sized debt obligation. The Thai economy is most likely to sink like the Titanic did."

 

[watchcat]

12 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Unfortunately the smiles are long gone in Thailand.. surely after 20 years management by military junta. And still no progress to enter the 21st century...and the poor daily wages and rising prices

 

 

But most smiles are just to save face in other word fake.

 

[gejohesch]

9 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

they were burmese, not thai

Burmese in Thailand seem to be the equivalent of Mexicans in the USA. But, possibly, better treated, as says my wife? She also considers Burmese are harder workers than Thai people are - again a possible parrallel with Mexican workers in the USA?

[Aussie999]

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

More and more it seems people here are not friendly.   I think it use to be better, but places like Pattaya and Bangkok I do no see much happiness. 

Places like Hua Hin from my experience are friendlier.

Shhh, we don't want too many coming to our paradise... Hua Hin.

[Aussie999]

1 hour ago, gejohesch said:

Burmese in Thailand seem to be the equivalent of Mexicans in the USA. But, possibly, better treated, as says my wife? She also considers Burmese are harder workers than Thai people are - again a possible parrallel with Mexican workers in the USA?

I agree with your wife, Burmese are harder workers that Thais (males)... I made the same comment on tik tok, which upset a lot of Thais.. they just can't handle the truth.

[Aussie999]

11 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

...and the incessantly whining clique of geriatric 'resident tourists'.

but here we have you whining... are you a "geriatric?"

[steven100]

but they still have their Thai fake smile to carry them on ......  

[newbee2022]

14 hours ago, save the frogs said:

one of the biggest bs fake news article ongoing stories ... happiness index

No, it's not BS. Only if you're a fake news fan😳😍

UN is doing this research over years.

 Thousands of people were asked. Poor and rich and average. About their lives, hopes, fears, expectations. Also about social life, education, economy, costs of housing and living, about trust in govts.

As a result, the Nordic countries are high up ranking.

Think again🤗

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's cherished title as the Land of Smiles faces jeopardy as a new global happiness ranking places the nation at 49th. While this signifies a five-place improvement from last year, Thailand still lags behind regional peers like Singapore and Vietnam, casting concerns over the nation's overall well-being.

Thailands lost the paddle... you know the rest,

thousands have nothing to be happy about, life is a daily struggle, except for those sitting on fortunes who believe life is perfect.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

...and the incessantly whining clique of geriatric 'resident tourists'.

I bet you're happy you got the opportunity to get that "dig" off your chest

[steven100]

12 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

About their lives, hopes, fears

 

I fear running into a ladyboy on beach road. 

[Atlantic Cod]

Most of the smiles in Thailand are Myanmar, Cambodia or Laos, it is a propaganda ploy to attract tourists to label Thailand as the land of smiles....anyway what does a 'smile' mean?

[BangkokReady]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Finland secures its spot as the world's happiest country for the eighth straight year, followed closely by other Nordic nations, including Denmark and Sweden. The once-optimistic United States has now slipped to 24th place, its lowest rank ever.

 

The nations with the most homogenous populations are some of the happiest, yet we are told that "diversity is our strength"?

[cookie1974]

The smile has been fake for years, the only time they smile is when you are filling their pockets, add into that the influx of idiots causing trouble everywhere and its easy to see how behind the  " Land of Smiles"  is a devilish grin

[lordgrinz]

Just now, cookie1974 said:

The smile has been fake for years, the only time they smile is when you are filling their pockets, add into that the influx of idiots causing trouble everywhere and its easy to see how behind the  " Land of Smiles"  is a devilish grin

 

They smile even before wanting to kill someone, if a Thai smiles, be very worried, watch your back!

[Atlantic Cod]

I have just had the pleasure of meeting some downs syndrome Thais and they smiled and had genuine joy in their expressions, I have also worked with downs syndrome people in the UK and 99% of those I have met are happy and smiling, the only ones who are moody, sulky and bitter are the ones who are most like 'normal' people, I conclude they want to be like us!!!

Many underprivileged Thais want to be like Japanese, Korean, Farang, etc, these are my opinions 

[SanSaiExPat]

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Unfortunately the smiles are long gone in Thailand.. surely after 20 years management by military junta. And still no progress to enter the 21st century...and the poor daily wages and rising prices

 

Just to amplify what you've said, A whole new generation of Thai's under this failed  "governance" that see nothing but more of the same in their future.  Gives a whole new slant to, "Same Same but different."