S'pore ranks 3rd happiest city in the world, behind Copenhagen & Zurich: Happy City Index

Singapore has been ranked the third "happiest" city in the world for 2025, coming in just behind Copenhagen and Zurich.

The rankings come from the Institute for the Quality of Life’s latest Happy City Index, which evaluates cities based on 82 indicators across six key themes: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health, and Mobility.

Two other Asian cities also made the top 10: Seoul secured 6th place, while Taipei landed in 8th.

A city-state unlike any other

The index described Singapore as a “city-state unlike any other,” and praised it as a global beacon of economic prosperity, good governance, and urban innovation.

Education and innovation were highlighted as key pillars of Singapore’s success, with local universities ranked among the top 50 globally and an impressive 7.37 patents per 10,000 residents — ensuring a "steady pipeline" of new ideas.

However, the index pointed out that the cost of education remains a concern, requiring 13.4 per cent of an individual’s income, making affordability an ongoing area of focus.

In terms of governance, the index commended the country’s “impressive” 95.81 per cent voter turnout in the last election, reflecting "high levels of civic engagement".

It also noted that three per cent of Singapore’s budget is allocated to supporting innovation, positioning the city as a global leader in smart urban development.

In healthcare, Singapore earned praise for its universal medical insurance and a doctor-to-population ratio of 2.8 per 1,000 residents — making healthcare both accessible and efficient.

The index noted that Singapore has a minimal crime rate, with just 3.31 recorded incidents of public violence per 1,000 residents, making Singapore "one of the safest cities" in the world.

The index also ranked Singapore’s mobility and transport infrastructure among the "most advanced" in the world.

All public transport vehicles are fully adapted for individuals with mobility disabilities, and traffic-related fatalities are notably low at 0.24 per 10,000 residents.

Sustainability is a core part of Singapore’s urban policy, with 100 per cent of the population served by sewage treatment facilities.

Waste management was flagged as a challenge despite an improvement in recycling efforts.

Lastly, the index noted Singapore’s "exceptionally" low unemployment rate of just two per cent, reflecting Singapore's "robust job market".

Happy City Index

The 2025 Happy City Index is the sixth edition of the index by London-based Institute for Quality of Life.

The institute conducts research on various aspects of quality of life, according to its website.

The index emphasised that "no single city can be labelled as the absolute best at ensuring the happiness of its citizens over the long haul".

Saying it would be "misleading to crown just one city as the winner", it explained that it has identify a group of cities that "stand out as some of the happiest places on the planet", labelling them "Gold cities".

Singapore previously placed 34th out of 37 Gold cities in the 2024 edition.

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