In a surprising shift from what many might expect, Indonesia has topped a major international study measuring human flourishing across the globe. This isn’t a ranking based on GDP, technological progress, or military power. Instead, it’s a comprehensive snapshot of how people feel about their lives — how content, connected, purposeful, and supported they truly are. And in this new global landscape of well-being, Indonesia has quietly moved to the front.
The Global Flourishing Study, a large-scale research project involving Harvard University, Baylor University, and Gallup, surveyed over 200,000 people across 22 countries. The goal was to look deeper than income or economic performance and ask broader questions: Are people finding meaning in their lives? Are their relationships strong? Do they feel their health is in a good place? And how secure are they, both financially and emotionally?
Looking beyond money to measure life satisfaction
These aren’t abstract questions. They dig into what it means to live well — and in many Western nations, the results were a wake-up call. The United Kingdom, for instance, found itself near the bottom of the ranking. The United States didn’t fare much better. But Indonesia came out on top, beating out richer and more industrialised countries. The result was surprising to some, but to those who live in Indonesia or understand its social fabric, it wasn’t quite so shocking.
What’s driving this sense of flourishing in a country with a relatively modest GDP? The study suggests it’s a mix of strong social ties, religious engagement, community support, and cultural values that prioritise harmony and connection. It’s worth noting that the researchers didn’t just focus on one or two indicators. Instead, they used six main areas to assess flourishing: happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and financial and material stability.
In many of these areas, Indonesia scored consistently well. According to South China Morning Post, one reason for the country’s strong showing is its deep-rooted religious life. In a nation where the majority of people regularly participate in faith-based activities, there’s a strong sense of belonging and shared values. This doesn’t just offer spiritual guidance — it creates tight-knit communities and opportunities for people to feel supported and less alone.
What Western countries might be missing
Contrast this with countries like the UK, where declining church attendance and an increase in individualism have coincided with growing loneliness and disconnection. As reported by The Times, researchers pointed to the decline in religious engagement as one possible factor behind the UK’s low scores on meaning, purpose, and social relationships.
Another part of the puzzle is Indonesia’s intergenerational living patterns and emphasis on family life. In many households, grandparents, parents, and children live together or close by, creating a reliable support system that extends beyond the nuclear family. In Western societies, the shift toward more isolated living arrangements, paired with fast-paced work cultures, may be playing a role in the reported sense of disconnection.
What’s particularly compelling about the Global Flourishing Study is its ability to highlight what raw economic indicators often miss. It’s easy to assume that a higher GDP equals better lives for everyone. But the reality is more complex. While wealth can provide comfort and security, it doesn’t always lead to emotional fulfilment, meaningful relationships, or a sense of purpose. In fact, countries with strong consumer cultures, high inequality, and demanding work-life balances sometimes report the lowest overall satisfaction when people are asked about the quality of their day-to-day lives.
A lesson in grounded, meaningful living
In Indonesia, many people live modestly, but they often enjoy the kinds of social ties and cultural values that help people feel grounded. This doesn’t mean the country is without its challenges. Indonesia still struggles with poverty, infrastructure gaps, and access to healthcare in some regions. But flourishing, as this study makes clear, doesn’t require perfection. It requires people to feel seen, supported, and part of something larger than themselves.
The findings also raise interesting questions for policymakers in countries that scored poorly. What can governments do to encourage flourishing that goes beyond economic performance? It might mean investing more in mental health services, community initiatives, accessible public spaces, and programmes that combat isolation. It could also mean rethinking how success is measured altogether.
As Harvard professor and co-lead of the study Tyler VanderWeele pointed out, this work is part of a growing movement to redefine human progress. Instead of simply looking at how many people are employed or how much money is being made, the focus is shifting toward overall quality of life. VanderWeele, in his work on the Human Flourishing Program, has consistently argued that well-being should be central to both academic research and government policy. It’s not just a feel-good metric — it’s a vital sign of how societies are functioning.
A new kind of global success story
For Indonesians, the study offers a moment of recognition. In a global conversation so often dominated by wealthier nations, this result shows that success can look different. It validates the strength of the country’s cultural and social frameworks — and it offers a reminder that flourishing is not reserved for those with the biggest bank balances.
Looking ahead, the Global Flourishing Study is expected to expand, tracking how well-being shifts over time and in response to global events. The researchers hope this growing body of data will encourage more countries to invest in what truly matters — not just the bottom line, but the human experience.
Indonesia’s top ranking may be a surprise on paper, but it’s a clear sign that connection, purpose, and community still matter deeply in a world that too often prioritises productivity over people. And as the world continues to grapple with mental health crises, loneliness, and the side effects of modern life, there may be lessons to learn from the quiet resilience of a country that chose to prioritise flourishing in its own way.