PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians are generally happy, scoring 6.48 out of 10 in the first ever Malaysia Happiness Index (MHI) 2021.
The MHI was implemented by the Statistics Department for the first time last year to measure the happiness level in the country from physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects.
People living in the federal territories were found to be the happiest, with Labuan having a "near perfect" score of 9.29, putting its people at the Very Happy level, said Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya scored 7.77 and 7.28 respectively, putting their residents at a Happy level, on par with Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis, which scored 7.20, 7.02 and 6.96 respectively.
Meanwhile, Melaka and Selangor were only Moderately Happy, scoring 5.85 and 5.74, respectively, said Mohd Uzir.
"The findings in this index are pleasant and the margin of error in the study is low, which shows that these are very reliable findings to use and be a guide in our efforts to improve the wellbeing and development of the nation.
"The study shows the concept of inclusiveness because the results are similar across the board in terms of ethnicity, gender and strata.
"This makes it easy for us to plan developmental policies as the gaps are not that far," he said during the launch of the MHI at the Statistics Department here on Friday (July 22).
The index also found that married people are the happiest, scoring 6.48, although their single and divorced or separated counterparts are not far behind, with a 6.47 score.
The widowed scored 6.40 on the index.
By gender, women were happier, scoring 6.49 compared to men at 6.46.
Mohd Uzir also said three components recording the highest score value were: the family component (7.23), religion and spiritual component (7.21), and health component (6.75).
By educational attainment, Malaysians with tertiary education recorded the highest on the index, at 6.58.
This was followed by those with primary education at 6.53, secondary education at 6.41 and those with no formal education at 6.31.
Rural folk in Malaysia are also found to be happier than urban dwellers, although both are at a Happy level, scoring 6.54 and 6.46 respectively.
It was found that the happiness index scores for all ethnic groups were at a Happy level with a score between 6.28 and 6.50, with bumiputras scoring the highest and "others" the lowest.
By age group, the index found that all age groups from 15 to above 65 were at a Happy level.
However, Malaysians aged 55 to 59 were the happiest, scoring 6.51.
The MHI barometer categorises a score of 0 to 2 as Very Unhappy, 2.01 to 4 as Unhappy, 4.01 to 6 as Moderately Happy, 6.01 to 8 at Happy, and 8.01 to 10 at Very Happy.
