Harvard Study Ranks Indonesia as the World's Top Country, Surpassing the US

Indonesia has been recorded as the country with the highest level of flourishing or life development in the latest research conducted by Harvard University. This achievement even surpasses the United States (US), which is in a lower position on the list.

The findings come from the Global Flourishing Study, published in the journal Nature Mental Health. The research compiled responses from more than 203,000 respondents in 22 countries, measuring various aspects from health, happiness, meaning of life, character, social relationships, financial security, and spirituality.

As a result, Indonesia achieved the highest score of 8.3. Below it is Israel with a score of 7.87, followed by the Philippines (7.71), Mexico (7.64), and Poland (7.55).

Meanwhile, the US is in 12th place. Another developed country, the UK, is in 20th place out of 22 countries.

The researchers state that their findings highlight that money is not everything. Thus, well-being is not solely related to wealth or physical health.

“Flourishing is multidimensional, and different countries flourish in different ways,” the research team writes in their study, quoted from the Daily Mail.

They note that many developed countries score high on financial security. However, on the other side, they are low in aspects of meaning of life, social relationships, and prosocial character.

Japan was found to be the country with the least flourishing society with a score of 5.89. Followed by Turkey (6.32), the UK (6.79), India (6.87), and Spain (6.9).

Japanese respondents were the least likely to answer ‘yes’ to the question of whether they have close friends. In contrast, Indonesia excels in social relationships and prosocial aspects, factors that create strong connectedness and community.