PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Happiness Index (MHI) revealed that young Malaysian women were happier than their male counterparts.
The Statistics Department said demographically, females scored 7.62 and reported higher happiness levels than males, which scored 7.57.
"The age group between 15 and 19 emerged as the happiest cohort," the department said in a press statement when releasing the MHI 2024 on Friday (Sept 12).
Overall, the MHI showed that Malaysians were placed in the happy category with a score of 7.60.
The MHI 2024 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, making it one of the most comprehensive and impactful social statistics tools for evaluating quality of life in Malaysia.
Under the 10-point score system, a score between 0 and 2 represented 'very unhappy', between 2 and 4 unhappy, between 4 and 6 moderately happy, between 6 and 8 happy and between 8 and 10 very happy.
"This outcome marks a significant milestone in the assessment of national social well-being, in line with Malaysia’s inclusive, people-driven and evidence-based development aspirations," the department added.
The survey also indicated a balance of well-being levels across geographic strata.
It found that the happiness score for urbanites was 7.61 compared to 7.56 for those in the rural areas.
The happiness index score based on the respective components showed that religion and spirituality (8.69) and family (8.64) played a crucial role in the lives of Malaysians.
They were the strongest contributors to national happiness.
Time used (7.82), education (7.81), health (7.79), housing and environment (7.67) and working life (7.58) were also factors impacting happiness among Malaysians.
Income (6.40) and culture (6.22) recorded the lowest score, though they still fall within the happy category.
Meanwhile, the Statistics Department said that this was the first time that the MHI report has been published in detail at both state and administrative district levels for a more targeted and locally grounded assessment.
A total of 16 state-level reports were produced under the MHI 2024.
It revealed that Terengganu (8.64), Johor (8.08), and Negeri Sembilan (8.01) were classified as very happy.
Selangor (7.21), Penang (7.19) and Labuan (7.0) scored the lowest happiness index under three state-level reports.
At the administrative district level, 36 districts were classified as very happy with an index score ranging from 8.02 to 9.83.
Kluang recorded the highest score (9.83), followed by Raub (9.52) and Mersing (9.50) while Kuala Nerus (9.03), Kunak (8.97) and Kemaman (8.79) had the lowest score.
