People in OECD countries report being more satisfied with their life than those in the Asia/Pacific region (Figure 7.1). On a scale of 1 to 10, life satisfaction scores are about 1.1 points higher on average across the OECD than across the Asia/Pacific region. Australians and New Zealanders report the highest life satisfaction of the countries observed, averaging a score of 7 out of 10; while residents in Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka report the lowest life‑satisfaction scores for 2022‑23, with less than 4 points.
On average, across the Asia/Pacific region and the OECD, life satisfaction has not changed markedly over the past decade (Figure 7.1). However, trends differ across Asia/Pacific countries. Average life satisfaction has increased in only half of the Asia/Pacific countries over the past decade, with some countries (e.g. Armenia, Georgia and Nepal) experiencing an increase of just above one point, while other countries (e.g. Bangladesh) recorded an equally large decrease.
People in wealthier countries tend to be more satisfied with life than those in less wealthy countries (Figure 7.2 ). OECD countries and Singapore have the highest levels of GDP per capita and are also among the countries with the highest life satisfaction. On the other hand, countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia India, and Pakistan have some of the lowest levels of GDP per capita, as well as the lowest average life satisfaction. People in countries from the Central Asia region such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan appear to have a higher life satisfaction than what might have been expected based on their GDP per capita.
Countries where people report higher “positive experiences scores” as measured by a positive experience index, generally have higher levels of life satisfaction (Figure 7.3). Respondents in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan report low levels of positive experience scores, as well as low levels of life satisfaction while respondents in Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam report both high levels of positive experience scores and life satisfaction. Kazakhstan, Singapore and OECD countries in the Asia-Pacific region have higher levels of life satisfaction than what might have been expected given their positive experiences index.
