The United Nations conducts an annual World Happiness Report, and Singapore is consistently ranked the happiest in Asia. The list is determined by GDP, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, social support, and absence of corruption in both business and government. However, for a country that is notoriously expensive to live in, Singapore's high rating is largely based on social factors. So what makes Singaporeans smile?

Singapore is a very diverse country. Made up of Chinese people, Malaysians, Indians, and other expats, the people of Singapore are surrounded by cultural multiplicity, making acceptance and coexistence unavoidable. Many believe this melting pot is what makes the country a happy place to live.

Traditional values and the importance of family are also a large part of what makes Singapore happy in and out of the home. Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of the nation for over 30 years, wrote a book titled 'From Third World to First.' In it, he said, “Singapore depends on the strength and influence of the family to keep society orderly and maintain a culture of thrift, hard work, filial piety, and respect for elders and for scholarship and for learning.”

Whether it is the culturally rich streets or the warm kinship at home, Singapore is definitely doing something right. Plan your next trip to the Southeast Asian island nation so that some of their joy can rub off on you.