Taiwan Ranks 18th Happiest Among OECD Members in 2014: DGBAS

Taiwan advanced one notch this year to be No. 18 among the 37 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in gross national happiness (GNH) index, according to Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

Taiwan scored 6.93 out of 10 (the maximum) in the index, up 0.29 from the 6.64 recorded last year and remains in the upper-middle tier among the 37 economies assessed. The score is compiled from 24 indicators in 11 categories and based on OECD's Better Life Index, which evaluates people's psychological and physical wellbeing.

Among Asian nations surveyed, Taiwan ranked the highest for the second consecutive year, ahead of Japan and South Korea, which rank 21st and 26th. Australia is the OECD's happiest nation, with an index reading of 8.11, closely followed by Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Taiwan has seen three indicators improve when evaluated by purchasing power parity (PPP), with household net adjusted disposable income, household net worth and personal earnings—ranking 10th, 2nd, and 5th, respectively.

The survey also shows Taiwanese feel happiest about “income and wealth,” followed by “personal security,” “residential condition” and “job and income,” but scoring the lowest in  “environmental quality”.

While DGBAS' survey shows improvement in GNP index, Taiwanese don't feel proportionate rise in wealth due to having  suffered stagnant salaries coupled with steadily rising consumer prices and unreasonably high housing prices. Last year, average monthly salaries in Taiwan stood at NT$44,446 (US$1,482), lower than 2008's NT$45,038 (US$1,501).

Generally Taiwanese prefer to see happiness from other sources as daily convenience (Taipei has reportedly the world's highest density of convenience stores), national health insurance, delicious food, beautiful landscape and freedom of speech. (JL)