Happiness, a deeply relative term, can have varied parameters. For an adventure tourist, it might be the availability of economical and safe accommodation, while for an old couple, it might be tranquil scenery and places to unwind. Time Out recently published its report to rank the happiest cities of Asia, and the top-ranking city will shock you. A hint? It’s in India.
Gathering insights from over 18,000 locals across the continent, they measured the city’s culture, food, nightlife, and overall quality of life to prepare the list. And this Indian city came shining out on top. A city that never sleeps, the home of cinema’s beloved Bollywood, and with over 1,40,000 millionaires – Asia’s happiest city is none other than Mumbai.
Happiest cities of Asia 2025: Why Mumbai tops the chart
Mumbai, known for its golden necklace, is a city laced with tourists, cornered by the Marine Drive, and will forever remain an iconic business capital of India. But it is nothing like a quiet place where you can soak in the peace of the mountains or go on scenic trains. In Mumbai, you have Juhu Beach for evening outings and the local train overloaded by passengers. The happiness is in the rush of the city, the bustle of grabbing a vada pav, and for the Bollywood fans, breathing the same air as Shah Rukh Khan.
- High Joy quotient: 94% of Mumbai residents say that their city brings them joy, dominating all of happiness metrics across cities.
- Sense of community: According to the TimeOut survey, 89% of the people living in Mumbai feel happier in the Millionaire Capital of India, as compared to other locations of residence. In fact, 88% people, they believed seemed genuinely happy.
- Happiness growth: The sense of happiness has grown significantly by 87% in Mumbai. TimeOut guesses the endless supply of entertainment in Mumbai as a dominant factor for this figure.
- Vibrant Lifestyle: Mumbai’s lively social scene includes the entire Bollywood industry situated in the city. The optimistic sense of dreaming towards your dream attracts thousands of immigrants to the city.
- Street food culture: There is no Mumbai without food, just like there is no Marine Drive without its nightly visitors. From scrumptious vada pavs to Bombay’s Bhel, the street food scene in Mumbai is a huge part of the city’s charm.
As per the TimeOut survey, Beijing and Shanghai follow Mumbai to rank as the second and third happiest cities in Asia. 93% of locals in Beijing say that their city makes them happy. The Chinese capital is filled with history, with the perfect blend of modernity. 92% residents of Shanghai express happiness with their city and is popular for its contemporary vibe lined with skyscrapers, shopping, and global presence.
Top 10 happiest cities in Asia
- Mumbai
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Chiang Mai
- Hanoi
- Jakarta
- Hong Kong
- Bangkok
- Singapore
- Seoul
‘I have to create my happy space in my imagination’: Internet lashes out
Enraged, surprised, yet amused by this report, the Internet did not have a kind reaction. From remarking that the survey only posed questions to the affluent, residents complained of the ‘imaginary’ happiness. A netizen wrote on X (formerly Twitter) and said, “I am constantly tired of listening to cars, bikes and autos honking, the endless and shabby road work, people littering without batting an eyelid; I have to create my happy space in my imagination! So who took this survey? I’m curious!”
A tired resident of a metro city commented, “In reality, 90% of the year is spent in heat, humidity, heavy traffic, bad aqi, narrow, unhygienic lanes, people breaking laws, especially on roads, poor waste management, coastal erosion and deforestation, overcrowded public transport, and the list goes on…” “Ask a Bombayite..not a Mumbaikar,” a comment echoed this sentiment. “Time Out didn’t really take the time out for this survey,” wrote another comment.
