Japan's happiness ranking varies slightly by report but generally places it in the mid-range globally, often around the 50th position, showing lower satisfaction with life aspects like job and finances despite being high in Asian rankings; recent data from 2024-2025 reports put Japan around 50th to 55th globally, notes The Global Economy, World Population Review, and News On Japan.
Japan ranked at twenty-seventh among the 30 countries. India had the highest percentage of people describing themselves as happy at 88%, compared to the overall average of 71%.
Why is the happiness level so low in Japan? Among Japanese respondents who said they were not happy, the most common reason was their "economic situation," cited by 64%. This was far greater than the second-most frequent reason of "I feel my life has meaning" at 27%.
The Japanese 80% rule, known as "Hara Hachi Bu", is a Confucian principle advising people to stop eating when they feel about 80% full, not completely stuffed, to support health and longevity. This practice encourages mindful eating, helps prevent overeating, and is linked to lower rates of illness and longer lifespans, particularly observed in Okinawan centenarians. It involves slowing down during meals, listening to your body's fullness cues, and appreciating food as fuel rather than indulging to the point of discomfort.
Both Japan and South Korea, the two most developed countries in East Asia are by no means below many developed countries in the western world. Yet the two countries are ranked 61 and 62 respectively in the world happiness index.
The "Japan 5-minute rule" refers to extreme punctuality, meaning you should arrive 5 minutes before a scheduled time (e.g., 9:55 AM for a 10:00 AM meeting) to be considered "on time," as being exactly on time is seen as late, showing respect and reliability; it's part of the Japanese concept of go-fun-mae koudou (five-minute prior action). This emphasis on being early is deeply cultural, contrasting with many Western norms, and applies to business, appointments, and even trains, where delays over 5 minutes warrant apologies and certificates.
The leading cause of death in Japan is consistently cancer (malignant neoplasms), accounting for about 30% of all deaths, followed by heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases (stroke), and pneumonia, with aging-related conditions like Alzheimer's also rising due to Japan's aging population. While cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, stroke) are significant, cancer has been the top killer since the 1980s, with lung, stomach, and colon cancers being prominent.
In Japan, the loss of 'mental self-control' or mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety were seen as something over which a person is unable to exercise will power. Ingrained in Japanese culture, those who are unable to practice will-power are taught to feel a sense of shame as a result.
The World Happiness Report ranked Australia 11th and New Zealand 12th in the world, lagging behind Israel, Mexico and Nordic countries. Believing in the kindness of others is more closely tied to happiness than previously thought, according to the latest findings.
🇨🇦 Canada ranked #1 most loved country in the world 🌍✨ Out of 48,000+ global respondents, Canada topped the international reputation list with a score of 78.1.
In a region fraught with conflict, Israel consistently ranks as one of the happiest nations on Earth. Bound by family, united through community, and strengthened by a shared resilience, Israelis embrace life amid adversity.
In the World Values Survey, Japan's average score for happiness is at lower-middle level. Comparing with other developed countries, it is low.
Statistics show that the quality of life of Japanese people is high in terms of health and safety. The life expectancy at birth of Japanese has become the highest in the world and Japan's infant mortality rate the lowest. Life expectancy at birth has been increasing and it is expected to improve farther (See Chart 9).
Ranking of the least happy countries worldwide 2024, by score. Afghanistan was ranked the least happy country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report from 2025. The country scored only 1.36 on a scale from 0 to 10.
“For example, Japanese women live longer thanks to their healthy lifestyle, which includes a better diet – especially for those over 50. The Japanese also consume less meat and animal fats than Westerners in general and eat more fish.
The sex ratio in Japan in 2021 was 95.38 males per 100 females. There are 61.53 million males and 64.52 million females in Japan.
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Life Expectancy
Japanese tend not to eat while walking along or standing around on the street. However, it is acceptable to drink while standing aside vending machines, which are ubiquitous in Japan. Eating and drinking on local trains is also frowned upon, but not long distance express trains such as the Shinkansen bullet train.
Thanks to a historically weak yen, the U.S. dollar goes quite far in Japan, making food, local transport, and cultural sites surprisingly affordable, though high-end hotels and bullet trains still cost significantly in dollar terms; expect about 155-156 yen per dollar, allowing for cheap convenience store snacks, budget ramen for around $10, and museum entries under $5, making it a great value trip for U.S. travelers.
The "3 Date Rule" in Japan refers to the cultural tendency to make a formal love confession (kokuhaku) on or around the third date, marking the transition from casual dating to an official couple, often after building trust with lighter activities like meals or walks, and it's considered a crucial step for clarifying relationship status before deeper intimacy, though it's a guideline, not a strict law.
Japanese beauty standards are firmly grounded in the principles of simplicity and a natural appearance. Traditionally, pale skin, dark hair, and refined features have been esteemed, with an emphasis on enhancing natural beauty rather than concealing it with excessive makeup or drastic changes.
Yes, $5,000 is generally enough for a comfortable 1-2 week solo trip to Japan, covering mid-range hotels, food, activities, and bullet trains, but it depends heavily on flight costs, your travel style (luxury vs. budget), and the duration, with it being tighter for longer trips or couples, especially during peak seasons. For longer stays (3+ weeks) or luxury experiences, you might need more, while budget-conscious travelers can stretch it further.
A more detailed analysis using 65 alleles at 19 polymorphic loci was performed on six populations. Both analyses demonstrated genetic evidence of the origin of Koreans from the central Asian Mongolians. Further, the Koreans are more closely related to the Japanese and quite distant from the Chinese.