Advices: world’s lowest income tax countries

2024

There are currently 17 countries in the world with zero income tax. Among them are the following: Antigua 🇦🇬 and Barbuda 🇦🇬 , St Kitts 🇰🇳 and Nevis , the UAE 🇦🇪 , Vanuatu 🇻🇺 , Brunei 🇧🇳 , Bahrain 🇧🇭 , the Bahamas 🇧🇸 , Bermuda 🇧🇲 , the Cayman 🇰🇾 Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Monaco 🇲🇨 , Saudi 🇸🇦 Arabia , Kuwait 🇰🇼 , Qatar 🇶🇦 , Somalia 🇸🇴 , and Western Sahara.

In addition to countries with zero income tax, there are low-tax regions. This article will also give examples of countries with the lowest tax rates in the world.

2019

Living in the world’s lowest income tax countries

No one wants huge chunks of their income being confiscated by the tax man. Here are a few places that will allow you to get ahead in sunny luxury.

Lowest Income Tax Countries

They say there’s only two certainties in life: death and taxes. This may be true for spreadsheet dictators with an unhealthy addiction to spray-on suit pants, but when it comes to the world’s lowest income tax countries, a finer quality of life can exist.

The truth is that no one wants to watch huge chunks of their income being confiscated by the tax man. This is what makes the idea of uprooting and re-establishing life on an exotic island with a few coconut trees and zero income tax so darned appealing.

Sun, sand, sangria and a full pay packet with no tax sounds like the fast road to retirement, right? We explore some of the countries that have little to no income tax alongside their liveability rating – not all countries with zero or very low income tax offer an idyllic life.

How countries with zero income tax survive

The answer to how the world’s lowest income tax countries work isn’t rocket science; it all comes down to alternative sources of revenue.

Accomplish that to a high degree, whether it’s in tourism, oil production or mining, and you’ll have revenue that can offset the need to tax residents.

Alaska generates 90% of its revenue from its oil and gas industry and boasts a 0% income tax rate. Oil-rich countries like Oman and Qatar are also in the same boat.

Countries like the Bahamas or the Maldives meanwhile generate enough revenue from tourism to fund a government without the need for an income tax on residents.

United Arab Emirates

UAE 🇦🇪

Income tax: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$0.83

Liveability: There are plenty of oil-rich countries littered throughout the Middle East that don’t impose an income tax on residents but the United Arab Emirates is generally considered one of the most popular due to its stable government, educational facilities and robust economy. In terms of general liveability, the UAE offers one of the most multicultural communities in the region. As a result of this there are plenty of dining and entertainment options to choose from alongside a strong English-speaking community. Those thinking about making the UAE a tax-free home will need to make some lifestyle considerations though – there are strict rules to abide by.

● Non-Muslim residents need to obtain a liquor licence to consume alcohol at home and in licenced venues only

● Women are required to dress modestly in public – no visible underwear is allowed and swimwear should only be worn at beaches or pools

● Cross dressing is illegal

● Kissing or showing public displays of affection is frowned upon

● Sex outside of marriage is illegal – this includes sharing a hotel room with someone of the opposite sex who you aren’t married or related to

● Homosexual sex is illegal and same-sex marriage is not recognised

● The UAE is a relatively tolerant society which respects one’s private life so long as it doesn’t attract public attention or offend others

Western Sahara

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: N/A – can be smuggled from Morocco for US$0.30 – US$0.70

Liveability: A tax-free country isn’t all about luxury hotels, hammocks and beaches. Western Sahara is a disputed territory of north-western Africa just neighbouring Morocco 🇲🇦 and Algeria 🇩🇿 . The region has been subjected to war and occupation for more than 40 years meaning Sahrawis have been forced into refugee camps whilst conflict simmers on. Such is the dire situation that Morocco has sealed off the occupied region with a towering sand wall spanning just over 2,700km across the desert, flanked by the world’s longest minefield. This is proof of when being one of the lowest income tax countries isn’t a good thing.

● Western Sahara’s tax-free status is a product of its territorial dispute

● It has no sufficient tourist hub and few natural resources

● It’s not a warzone but its unstable legal system subsequently makes liveability and investment unsustainable

Bermuda 🇧🇲

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$3.45

Liveability: Oracle Team USA, the world’s richest racing yacht team backed by billionaire businessman Larry Ellison is based out of Bermuda, so that should give you some indication of this Caribbean destination’s immense wealth. Bermuda is as luxurious and idyllic as it comes when you talk about tax-free havens. The downside? The cost of living is astronomical due to its relative isolation from the United States’ eastern coastline. Those who work in Bermuda tend to experience a luxurious lifestyle supported by high paying jobs but again, this is at the detriment of the high living costs – nearly four times that of the US and triple that of the UK or Canada.

● Bermuda is highly developed compared to other Caribbean islands

● Facilities include excellent road access, public transport and high-end restaurants

● Amazing expat community

● A survey from HSBC Bank International rated Bermuda as the second most friendly country in the world behind Canada

● Food and dining is expensive

● No income tax but there may be indirect taxes

● Pink sand, white sand, crystal blue waters and a cruisy lifestyle is the backbone of this British island territory

● There’s a big financial sector in the country to support workers

Somalia 🇸🇴

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: $US0.61

Liveability: Somalia is a prime example of a tax haven that dispels the usual myth of living a lavish lifestyle by the beach. The region is arguably one of the least liveable countries in the world thanks to decades of civil war, crime, murders, kidnappings and general unrest. The government has thus far failed to contain these issues and it’s the reason why there is no income tax – it’s considered a failed state, which has nothing to do with revenue from tourism or foreign investment.

● Hargeisa (pictured) is the capital of Somaliland and is considered one of the safest places in the country with a population of 760,000

● Locals are extremely friendly and welcoming but there is still the isolated incident of threats of violence against foreigners

● Roads are basic with no traffic lights, street signs or streetlights

● Men can’t wear shorts or sleeveless shirts; women must wear long dresses or skirts

● Tourist attractions are minimal in Hargeisa besides a town market and camel market

● There is no alcohol in Hargeisa; men instead drink tea, coffee or fruit juice

The Bahamas 🇧🇸

Income tax: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$1.66

Liveability: With Instagrammable swimming pigs and scenic pulling power such as this, it’s little wonder that the Bahamas doesn’t need to impose an income tax on residents looking to set up life amongst turquoise waters and white sands. Located off the coast between Miami and Cuba, The Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas after the U.S and Canada. It earns this rank thanks to its robust economy bolstered by tourism and offshore finance. Things to note about the Bahamas:

● You’ll just need a fair bit of money to set up residence

● Temporary residency is granted with a US$1,000 fee by the immigration office, which can be renewed yearly

● You’ll need to make an investment in property to the sum of US$250,000 if you plan on staying long-term or acquiring permanent residency

Monaco 🇲🇨

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$5.15

Liveability: As the poster child for tax havens it doesn’t get any more glamorous than Monaco for wealthy expats. The perennial playground for ultra-high-net-worth individuals is also one of the world’s most beautiful with dedicated marinas wrapping around natural cliff faces, and mansions and luxury hotels bordered by a sea of superyachts.

● Monaco became one of the earliest countries to abolish income tax in 1869

● Liveability score is naturally high but you’ll need to earn serious money to sustain the lifestyle

● Monaco is still one of the easiest tax-free countries to become a citizen in

● Monaco banks require a minimum deposit between 500,000 to 1,000,000 euros to establish a citizenship application

● Home to one of the world’s lowest crime rates

● There are no restrictions on foreigners opening bank accounts or buying property in Monaco

● During the Monaco Grand Prix, visitors can expect to pay peak rental fees of over US$10,000 a night at apartments

Andorra 🇦🇩

Tax rate: 10%

Price of a can of Coke: US$2.03

Liveability: There are plenty of tax havens that show off the finest in waterfront living, but for those who prefer snow to sun there is Andorra, a quaint little country located in the Pyrenees mountains, sandwiched on the border of France and Spain. Whilst not a completely tax-free haven – individuals making over 40,000 euros a year need to pay 10% tax – it does have a negligible capped tax rate. This means less time dodging the tax man and more time for hitting the ski slopes. If skiing isn’t your thing, the community is known for being quiet and easygoing. The official language is Catalan but locals also commonly speak Spanish, Portuguese and French.

● Andorra is considered one of the world’s safest countries with a population of 20,000

● The main city of La Vella saw just one armed robbery in 2015

● A value-added tax (VAT) means Europeans will regularly drive through for day trips to purchase cigarettes, liquor, clothes or electronics

● Obtaining citizenship in Andorra requires an extensive amount of time – over 10 years on average

Belize 🇧🇿

Tax rate: 25%

Price of a can of Coke: US$1.00

Liveability: If Bermuda or the Bahamas is out of your budget then Belize may be the tropical playground to call home. At roughly two-thirds the cost of living of the aforementioned B-locales, Belize is one of the cheaper Caribbean resorts to be considered a tax haven. For starters, the taxes are low. Income tax is capped at 25% for individuals and companies with the first US$10,000 exempt. There are also no capital gains taxes and property taxes are assessed at 1-1.5% of the land. Dividends from a Belize International Business Corporation – that is any offshore corporation that doesn’t include income from the US – are exempt from tax. There’s also zero tax on inheritance.

● Goods can be brought into Belize tax-free – this includes planes, boats and cars

● Residents only need to spend a month of a year in Belize

● It’s only a two-hour flight from Belize to the US

● The temperature rarely falls below 21°C

● Belize is the only official English-speaking language in Central America

● Revered for its relaxed and unpretentious summer atmosphere

● Ecologically stunning with the world’s second largest barrier reef along with the famous Blue Hole site amongst other natural environments

● The port city of Belize City is a dangerous place to avoid. It’s reportedly dirty, dodgy and rife with scammers, drug activity and crime

Brunei 🇧🇳

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$0.81

It may look good on paper with an income tax of 0%, but Brunei isn’t exactly the most liveable nation in the world. Beneath the opulent Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque complete with 29 golden domes, and the capital’s gaudy Istana Nurul palace, home of Brunei’s ruling Sultan, is a nation that bypasses income tax through its immense oil wealth. Beyond that it’s not the most welcoming place for foreigners and the government is a borderline dictatorship.

● Brunei follows strict Sharia law that bans the sale of alcohol

● Non-Muslims over 17 years old have a duty-free allowance of two litres of liquor or 12 cans of beer brought into the country every 48 hours

● Foreigners can only drink alcohol in hotel rooms or private residences

● Sex with a person who you aren’t married to is illegal

● Homosexuality is illegal in Brunei

● Speaking negatively of the Sultan or Prince is illegal

● Overstaying your Visa can incur strict penalties such as a fine, short prison sentence or caning

● Celebrating Christmas is a grey area – Christians can attend church in private but need to inform authorities as the Sultan believes any greater celebration could undermine Islam in the nation

Cayman Islands 🇰🇾

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$2.54

When most people think of tax havens the Cayman Islands often sits at the top of that list for both big businesses and individuals alike. The British Overseas Territory which is situated off the coasts of Cuba and Jamaica boasts zero corporate tax and zero income tax for residents. Pair this with an idyllic island lifestyle littered with sunsets, catamarans, cocktails and sandy white beaches and you’ll soon realise why plenty of young professional expats have made the Cayman Islands their temporary homes before returning to a life of settling down, getting a mortgage and starting a family. There’s plenty of evidence suggesting that the Cayman Islands is also a safe place to live. Violent crime is very low and when it does happen it’s usually contained to locals rather than targeted at tourists. Its population is considered small at roughly 60,000 residents and is perfect for those who live for diving and nature. Needless to say, two biggest industries in the Cayman Islands are diving followed by finance.

● The Cayman Islands is considered tax neutral meaning there is no income tax, no property taxes, no capital gains taxes, no payroll taxes, and no withholding taxes imposed

● The island earns its revenue through fees from tourism and work permits, financial transactions and import duties

● Imported goods attract high duty taxes between 22% and 27% whilst luxury cars can attract a duty tax rate of up to 42.3%

● You need health care to work in the Cayman Islands and employers are required to pay half of it

● Living expenses aren’t the cheapest and residents can expect to pay double the price for everyday items found in the U.S

● Every job must be advertised and offered to Caymanians first

● Buying real estate is welcomed and a straight-forward process with prices starting at US$300,000 for a townhouse before heading into the millions

● Real estate buyers only need to pay a once-off property stamp duty of 7.5%

● You can bring your pet to the Cayman Islands via ‘puppy passports’ issued via the department of agriculture

● A diverse range of standard professions exist from teachers to bartenders to nurses and hairdressers, so a balance of lifestyle and income saving is possible

● The region has inherited America’s food portion sizes and tipping culture

● The island has a robust fitness culture to match its leisure culture

● The lifestyle paired with a regular succession of new faces has been reported to be a strain on long term relationships

● Big firms like Merrill Lynch, KPMG and PWC operate offices out of the island

Bahrain 🇧🇭

Tax rate: 0%

Price of a can of Coke: US$0.77

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a country located in the Persian Gulf alongside neighbouring Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. More importantly, it benefits from no taxes on income, sales, capital gains, corporate or estates with an exception surrounding the deriving of profits from the country’s fossil fuels. For companies embarking on this route there is a tax rate of 46% levied on net profits regardless of whether they are local or foreign. Other than that, the positives make Bahrain one of the more popular countries to reside in when it comes to tax minimisation. Another attractive trait is the fact that Bahrain is one of the most liberal Gulf States in the world with friendly locals who have pride in their culture. Nearly all Bahrainis can also speak English. The only real downside is that expats may encounter island fever on the island nation. Beachside developments have started to spring up on Muharraq Island for those seeking a bit more of a lifestyle bonus.

● Women are allowed to drive and work in Bahrain

● Expat women do not need to cover their heads or wear abayas however dressing modestly is recommended

● Pork and alcohol can be consumed and most restaurants are licensed

● Besides mosques, other places of worship can be found in the country including Anglican and Catholic churches and a synagogue

● While the working environment is attractive, Bahrain’s natural landscape isn’t exactly world class. Most of the desert scenery is littered with intersecting oil and gas pipelines

● Bahrainis are generally friendly and most expats won’t have issues making friends with locals

● Learning Arabic isn’t necessary unless it’s desired

● Housing options are generous in Bahrain with everything from apartments to stand-alone villas and gated compounds

● Water quality still needs some improvement in Bahrain so be prepared to drink from bottled water

● On the fitness front Bahrain offers plenty from tennis to golf to horse riding to pilates as some of the more popular options

● Book clubs and language schools are also popular amongst parents

● Proximity to Dubai, Oman, Abu Dhabi and other countries is a positive for those after weekend getaways

Why don't Singaporeans who are unhappy with the country just go to Malaysia where everything is much cheaper and the country is much freer?

I do. Not to Malaysia, but to Argentina.

It took me 3 years of paperwork to finally get a temporary residence with a validity of one year, renewable as long as I continue working here. It will take me another 3 years before I can open a bank account here; meanwhile all the spare money is stashed in bricks at home. It will take me probably another 3 years before I can legally own property here; meanwhile I rent and put up with it. It took me 6 years of continued learning to pick up the local language, and despite that I still have trouble understanding it in very specific places like legal or academic uses.

Places open when I am at work and close when I am free to go shopping. So I buy bulk on weekends and cook at home, saving tons of money and eating fresh. Banks are only open for 5 hours in the morning and you can spend up to four hours in the queue just to pay a bill. Government offices (for immigration and tax purposes) only open in the morning and you either stand in line for ages or you take a number and sit there for ages. Buses come every hour and if you miss one you wait for the next and arrive an hour late for whatever you were taking the bus for.

But the place is huge and a weekend getaway can be to a totally uninhabited place where for kilometres around there is not a human being in sight. There are mountains, deserts, prairie, forests, seas, a long coastline, tropical and temperate climates, even antarctic (the country goes down south to about 55 degrees latitude south, the most extreme in the world). Whatever kind of natural environment or urban environment you like, there is a place in Argentina for you to settle down.

The moment you obtain residency here, you can change environment easily; moving from province to province is much easier than from country to country. Argentina forms part of the Mercosur, which means citizens (not too sure about perm. residents) can travel to other countries within this bloc with just their identity card, passport optional. Travel within the country is very much facilitated by the fantastic long distance buses and domestic flights. Hitch-hiking is legal. Travelling in a caravan, on horseback, on bicycles, on foot, are all possible.

Jobs aren’t plentiful and the ecnomy is not even among the best in the world. However if you have a skill that locals don’t, or few locals have, or you do it better than they do, all of a sudden your value skyrockets and you find the way to a residency paved for you with a red carpet. Inflation is sky-high (it is calming down recently) so not having a bank account is no problem at all; I rather spend my money on tangibles than watch them devalue as digits. Unemployment is high, but children, students and retirees are better cared for than in Singapore. Public education is free and good, public universities are prestigious and provide quality education to both locals and foreigners alike, without the need for scholarships or bonds. Education is not a cut-throat 100m race, more like a marathon. If you can’t do it this year, try again next year. If you fail this month, try again next month. If you’re sick on exam day, if your family member is sick, if you have to work, if you’re out of town, if you fail it, you get to retake the exam not next year but next month. If you chose a wrong subject combination or a wrong degree, you get to quit and enroll in another. It is all about second chances.

Now that I have worked here fo 3 years and will be studying here for the next 6, I find that I miss Singapore less and less. The last time I went back on holiday I felt like I was a tourist. Nothing at home seemed “right” anymore. Everything’s done better here, even aspects that I don’t normally like, like super one-hour waits for buses.

I was unhappy with Singapore before I left. Whether the grass is greener or not on the side I have chosen, I chose it. That’s probably what makes me happier here. The choice.

■You are very brave , courageous if not over adventurous.However since you seem to know what you want especially what you are into ,I must say that I admire your guts and envy your decision.Many in your position aspire to do what they dream to do but lack the courage to do it.Wish you well with a great future ahead.

No place, no country in the whole world is perfect. If anyone decides to immigrate to another country, they just have to be mentally and emotionally prepared to just accept whatever hardship, challenges and obstacles that are being thrown at them while at the initial stage of settling down.

Bear in mind that if don’t have any friends or relatives living there, the initial period of settling down can be very lonely.

Another mindset need to be adjusted: Come what may, even if the situation in that country were to change to become worse in the future, they have to keep reminding themselves that the decision they make about immigrating to another country, particularly that country where they are living in, is theirs and they cannot start blaming the country and its policies changes and so forth.

The world is an evolving place, nothing stays the same forever, so do all the places and countries. No one can really guarantee anyone that a particular place or country is a perfect or at least an ideal and suitable place to live in for now and forever.

It is just like the case of Singapore, which some responses here mentioned that in the past, Singapore was more livable than what it is now. But who, at that time would foresee that Singapore will become what we are today?

Similarly, it is the same with all other countries. Some look good and really are good to live in, but who can guarantee that these countries which are good to settle down to live in now, will continue to be the same in the future? That’s why if things turn bad in the future in the countries they immigrated to, they have to just grit their teeth and move on, accept their decision and try to dwell on the positives of the things in that country and not pick on the negatives.

To uproot and immigrate to another country is a huge issue in anyone’s life. It is really NOT for those who are faint-hearted and fickle-minded and who are easily thwarted by and unhappy with the slightest mistake in any political, social, economic, and governance system. And they might need to work much harder than the locals even if they have the rare skills that locals don’t have.

Unless they are some world renowned celebrities or some kinds of offsprings of some royalties with endless amounts of cash to throw anywhere in the world😄, which most of us who are ordinary folks, can’t afford to do so😅, we will need to decide carefully the issue of immigration.

Good for you! Totally understand where your are coming from. Singapore now is not the Singapore we know in the past, and many of us are just waiting to withdraw our CPF and move somewhere else.

That’s what my dad said to me when I told him about my big move too. Usually Asian Dads don’t like their children to go far, less if it is a daughter.

Good for you for taking the plunge.

Singapore is a horrible place as far as middle class is concern

authorities rob the working class to make the rich and powerful richer and more powerful

it is an elitist system

taxes are higher than Europe but here in Singapore you get nothing in return

taxes are disguised as low because indirect taxes are astronomically high

to use water , you have to pay water taxes, water consumption tax,

two tax on water alone

to drive a car you need to pay for a certificate, costing usd $50,000.00

you also need to pay import taxes of 120% 0f the import price of the vehicle

you also need tp pay road tax of about 1000.00 a year

you also need to pay for the mileage your car travelled

you need to pay petrol tax at 40%

further more gst is at 7% (9% in 2024)

this is hell on earth as far as taxes is concerned

Singapore is a good playground for the rich, everything their old pioneer generation build is now being enjoyed by new immigrants who just waltz in,. SG government welcome them with wide open arms.

And wide open legs too!

Hi Eiko!

I have replied by private message, hope it helps!

I want to move to Argentina after reading your answer. Can i manage with just english?

Why don't Singaporeans who are unhappy with the country just go to Malaysia where everything is much cheaper and the country is much freer?

A friend recently introduced me to the wonders of living in Malaysia. In the past 30 days, I’ve gone on 4 holidays to Malaysia and I’m so loving it. I’ve been spending about S$15 a day in Malaysia and this includes transport, food and accommodation.

Cost of living

In Singapore, it costs S$1.40 to get a cup of coffee at the hawker centre. In Malaysia, it costs RM1.40. In Singapore, it costs about S$4 to get a Magnum ice cream at a convenience store. In Malaysia, it costs RM4. In Singapore you have the S$2 store called Daiso. In Malaysia, you have the 2 ringgit store.

For your convenience, the current exchange rate is 1 SGD to RM3.15.

Just last night, my mum and I shared a plate of fried Hokkien mee, a large coconut and a glass of chrysanthemum tea at a zi char stall. The total bill amounted to RM14, which is S$4.40 for a full dinner for two.

There are a number of Singaporeans who have already upgraded their lifestyle by moving to Malaysia. They rent out their home in Singapore, earning S$2–3K a month. Then they live on RM6–9K a month in Malaysia.

So I completely agree with the OP that Malaysia is much cheaper than Singapore.

Crime

When I tell Singaporeans that I’ve been travelling to Malaysia regularly, the most common reaction I get is, “So dangerous!”

Most of the crime you read about takes place in cities like Johore Bahru, Kuala Lumpur or Penang. But Malaysia is soooo much bigger than its cities. If a foreigner comes to Singapore, do you recommend that they stay only in Orchard Road or the Central Business District?

No!

You tell them to go to Toa Payoh, Jurong, Bedok and see how the ordinary Singaporeans live. Likewise, when in Malaysia, go to Pekan Nanas, Ayer Hitam, Pontian, and see how the ordinary Malaysians live. It is so safe that you can walk in a dark alley with no street lamps and have no fear of being robbed or attacked. Even in Singapore I don’t feel that safe!

But then, there are also dogs in Malaysia. Now that’s the only part that I don’t feel safe about because I’m afraid of big dogs.

Pace of life

When you take the bus across the Causeway, one of the first things you will notice is how much slower the escalator is on the Malaysian side. Everything moves much more slowly in Malaysia — the machines, the people, even the animals. Malaysian towns have a much slower pace of life compared to Singapore.

Shops don’t open till 10am in the morning, and many close by 6pm, except on weekends. Sometimes the shops in towns don’t even open. It’s almost as though the shop owner woke up in the morning and said, “Ah, I’m not going to work today. I’m just gonna go fishing.”

Sure, it’s not like efficient Singapore, but there, people are kind and patient. People greet familiar faces. They take time to talk to you instead of brushing you off or looking at you suspiciously when you greet them.

When you take the bus back to Singapore, you know you’re near Singapore when people rush down the bus, rush up the escalator, rush through immigration and customs. You really feel like you don’t want to go back to Singapore after having had a relaxing 2–3 days in Malaysia.

Food

You say that Singapore has good food? Well, Malaysian food is better. There’s a simple reason — authenticity.

In Malaysian towns, the meat is always more tender because the meat is fresher. Many foods such as bread and noodles are homemade, not factory-made. Factory-made staples have a different taste and texture to it. It’s just fabulous! In Singapore, everything is factory-made, because it’s more efficient and it makes more money.

In Malaysia towns, many food stalls are operated by owners who have cooked the same dishes every day for decades. In some cases, the next generation is involved in the business and will take over the business in future. In Singapore, food stalls are operated by PRC or Malaysian staff cheaply employed by owners who want to make more money for less work. It’s more efficient, you see. But food quality suffers because of that.

Happiness

In Singapore, we believe that if we can have more money, we will be happier. But as Singaporeans become richer than before, we also observe that we have become more unhappy.

That’s because having more money doesn’t bring us happiness.

We become happy when our reality meets or exceeds our expectations. And as a Singaporean, let me just say that Singaporeans’ expectations are very high. That is why we are such an unhappy lot — because reality never meets our expectations. We always expect more.

In Malaysia, people tend to be happier. Not because they have more, but because they expect less.

If quality of life is measured by how happy we are from day to day, then let me say that most Malaysians have a far higher quality of life than most Singaporeans.

Quality of life is defined by the World Health Organization as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns".

To sum it up

Earn money in Singapore, live in Malaysia.

Work and invest in Singapore 🇸🇬 , retire early and live in Malaysia 🇲🇾 .

Standard indicators of the quality of life include wealth, employment, the environment, physical and mental health, education, recreation and leisure time, social belonging, religious beliefs, safety, security and freedom.

QOL has a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, politics and employment. Health related QOL (HRQOL) is an evaluation of QOL and its relationship with health.

Cantonese say ,

命里有时终须有命里无时问老豆 🤣

ming lei jau si zung seoi jau ming lei mou si man lou dau

Sometimes in life, there must be something. There is no time in life, ask daddy 🤣

Engaged theory

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One approach, called the engaged theory, outlined in the journal of Applied Research in the Quality of Life, posits four domains in assessing quality of life: ecology, economics, politics and culture.[6] In the domain of culture, for example, it includes the following subdomains of quality of life:

Beliefs and ideas

Creativity and recreation

Enquiry and learning

Gender and generations

Identity and engagement

Memory and projection

Well-being and health

Under this conception, other frequently related concepts include freedom, human rights, and happiness. However, since happiness is subjective and difficult to measure, other measures are generally given priority. It has also been shown that happiness, as much as it can be measured, does not necessarily increase correspondingly with the comfort that results from increasing income.[7] As a result, standard of living should not be taken to be a measure of happiness.[2][8] Also, sometimes considered related is the concept of human security, though the latter may be considered at a more basic level and for all people.

Quantitative measurement

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Unlike per capita GDP or standard of living, both of which can be measured in financial terms, it is harder to make objective or long-term measurements of the quality of life experienced by nations or other groups of people. Researchers have begun in recent times to distinguish two aspects of personal well-being: Emotional well-being, in which respondents are asked about the quality of their everyday emotional experiences – the frequency and intensity of their experiences of, for example, joy, stress, sadness, anger and affection – and life evaluation, in which respondents are asked to think about their life in general and evaluate it against a scale.[9] Such and other systems and scales of measurement have been in use for some time. Research has attempted to examine the relationship between quality of life and productivity.[10]

There are many different methods of measuring quality of life in terms of health care, wealth, and materialistic goods. However, it is much more difficult to measure meaningful expression of one's desires. One way to do so is to evaluate the scope of how individuals have fulfilled their own ideals. Quality of life can simply mean happiness, which is the subjective state of mind. By using that mentality, citizens of a developing country appreciate more since they are content with the basic necessities of health care, education and child protection.[11]

According to ecological economist Robert Costanza:

While Quality of Life (QOL) has long been an explicit or implicit policy goal, adequate definition and measurement have been elusive. Diverse "objective" and "subjective" indicators across a range of disciplines and scales, and recent work on subjective well-being (SWB) surveys and the psychology of happiness have spurred renewed interest.[12]

Human Development Index

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Main article: Human Development Index

Perhaps the most commonly used international measure of development is the Human Development Index (HDI), which combines measures of life expectancy, education, and standard of living, in an attempt to quantify the options available to individuals within a given society. The HDI is used by the United Nations Development Programme in their Human Development Report. However, since 2010, The Human Development Report introduced an Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI). While the original HDI remains useful, it stated that "the IHDI is the actual level of human development (accounting for inequality), while the original HDI can be viewed as an index of 'potential' human development (or the maximum level of HDI) that could be achieved if there was no inequality."[13]

World Happiness Report

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Main article: World Happiness Report

Map showing happiness of countries by their score according to the 2023 World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey on the state of global happiness. It ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, reflecting growing global interest in using happiness and substantial well-being as an indicator of the quality of human development. Its growing purpose has allowed governments, communities and organizations to use appropriate data to record happiness in order to enable policies to provide better lives. The reports review the state of happiness in the world today and show how the science of happiness explains personal and national variations in happiness.[14]

Developed again by the United Nations and published recently[when?] along with the HDI, this report combines both objective and subjective measures to rank countries by happiness, which is deemed as the ultimate outcome of a high quality of life. It uses surveys from Gallup, real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity to derive the final score. Happiness is already recognized as an important concept in global public policy. The World Happiness Report indicates that some regions have in recent years[when?] been experiencing progressive inequality of happiness.[15]

Other measures

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The Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) is a measure developed by sociologist M. D. Morris in the 1970s, based on basic literacy, infant mortality, and life expectancy. Although not as complex as other measures, and now essentially replaced by the Human Development Index, the PQLI is notable for Morris's attempt to show a "less fatalistic pessimistic picture" by focusing on three areas where global quality of life was generally improving at the time, while ignoring gross national product and other possible indicators that were not improving.[16]

The Happy Planet Index, introduced in 2006, is unique among quality of life measures in that, in addition to standard determinants of well-being, it uses each country's ecological footprint as an indicator. As a result, European and North American nations do not dominate this measure. The 2012 list is instead topped by Costa Rica, Vietnam and Colombia.[17]

In 2010, Gallup researchers trying to find the world's happiest countries found Denmark to be at the top of the list.[18] For the period 2014–2016, Norway surpasses Denmark to be at the top of the list.[19]

A 2010 study by two Princeton University professors looked at 1,000 randomly selected U.S. residents over an extended period. It concludes that their life evaluations – that is, their considered evaluations of their life against a stated scale of one to ten – rise steadily with income. On the other hand, their reported quality of emotional daily experiences (their reported experiences of joy, affection, stress, sadness, or anger) levels off after a certain income level (approximately $75,000 per year in 2010); income above $75,000 does not lead to more experiences of happiness nor to further relief of unhappiness or stress. Below this income level, respondents reported decreasing happiness and increasing sadness and stress, implying the pain of life's misfortunes, including disease, divorce, and being alone, is exacerbated by poverty.[20]

Gross national happiness and other subjective measures of happiness are being used by the governments of Bhutan and the United Kingdom.[21] The World Happiness report, issued by Columbia University[22] is a meta-analysis of happiness globally and provides an overview of countries and grassroots activists using GNH. The OECD issued a guide for the use of subjective well-being metrics in 2013.[23] In the U.S., cities and communities are using a GNH metric at a grassroots level.[24]

The Social Progress Index measures the extent to which countries provide for the social and environmental needs of their citizens. Fifty-two indicators in the areas of basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity show the relative performance of nations. The index uses outcome measures when there is sufficient data available or the closest possible proxies.

Day-Reconstruction Method was another way of measuring happiness, in which researchers asked their subjects to recall various things they did on the previous day and describe their mood during each activity. Being simple and approachable, this method required memory and the experiments have confirmed that the answers that people give are similar to those who repeatedly recalled each subject. The method eventually declined as it called for more effort and thoughtful responses, which often included interpretations and outcomes that do not occur to people who are asked to record every action in their daily lives.[25]

The Digital Quality of Life Index - a yearly study on digital well-being across 121 countries created by Surfshark. It indexes each country according to five pillars that impact a population's digital quality of life: internet affordability, internet quality, electronic infrastructure, electronic security, and electronic government.[26]

Livability

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Main article: Livability

The Economist Intelligence Unit awarded Vienna the most livable city in 2019 Global Liveability Ranking.[27]

The term quality of life is also used by politicians and economists to measure the livability of a given city or nation. Two widely known measures of livability are the Economist Intelligence Unit's Where-to-be-born Index and Mercer's Quality of Living Reports. These two measures calculate the livability of countries and cities around the world, respectively, through a combination of subjective life-satisfaction surveys and objective determinants of quality of life such as divorce rates, safety, and infrastructure. Such measures relate more broadly to the population of a city, state, or country, not to individual quality of life. Livability has a long history and tradition in urban design, and neighborhoods design standards such as LEED-ND are often used in an attempt to influence livability.

Crimes

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Some crimes against property (e.g., graffiti and vandalism) and some "victimless crimes" have been referred to as "quality-of-life crimes". American sociologist James Q. Wilson encapsulated this argument as the broken windows theory, which asserts that relatively minor problems left unattended (such as litter, graffiti, or public urination by homeless individuals) send a subliminal message that disorder, in general, is being tolerated, and as a result, more serious crimes will end up being committed (the analogy being that a broken window left broken shows an image of general dilapidation).

Wilson's theories have been used to justify the implementation of zero tolerance policies by many prominent American mayors, most notably Oscar Goodman in Las Vegas, Richard Riordan in Los Angeles, Rudolph Giuliani in New York City and Gavin Newsom in San Francisco. Such policies refuse to tolerate even minor crimes; proponents argue that this will improve the quality of life of local residents. However, critics of zero tolerance policies believe that such policies neglect investigation on a case-by-case basis and may lead to unreasonably harsh penalties for crimes.

In healthcare

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Main article: Quality of life (healthcare)

Within the field of healthcare, quality of life is often regarded in terms of how a certain ailment affects a patient on an individual level. This may be a debilitating weakness that is not life-threatening; life-threatening illness that is not terminal; terminal illness; the predictable, natural decline in the health of an elder; an unforeseen mental/physical decline of a loved one; or chronic, end-stage disease processes. Researchers at the University of Toronto's Quality of Life Research Unit define quality of life as "The degree to which a person enjoys the important possibilities of his or her life" (UofT). Their Quality of Life Model is based on the categories "being", "belonging", and "becoming"; respectively who one is, how one is connected to one's environment, and whether one achieves one's personal goals, hopes, and aspirations.[28][29]

Experience sampling studies show substantial between-person variability in within-person associations between somatic symptoms and quality of life.[30] Hecht and Shiel measure quality of life as "the patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities" since life quality is strongly related to wellbeing without suffering from sickness and treatment.[31]

In international development

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Quality of life has been deemed an important concept in the field of international development because it allows development to be analyzed on a measure that is generally accepted as more comprehensive than standard of living. Within development theory, however, there are varying ideas concerning what constitutes desirable change for a particular society. The different ways that quality of life is defined by institutions, therefore, shape how these organizations work for its improvement as a whole.

Organisations such as the World Bank, for example, declare a goal of "working for a world free of poverty",[32] with poverty defined as a lack of basic human needs, such as food, water, shelter, freedom, access to education, healthcare, or employment.[33] In other words, poverty is defined as a low quality of life. Using this definition, the World Bank works towards improving quality of life through the stated goal of lowering poverty and helping people afford a better quality of life.

Other organizations, however, may also work towards improved global quality of life using a slightly different definition and substantially different methods. Many NGOs do not focus at all on reducing poverty on a national or international scale, but rather attempt to improve the quality of life for individuals or communities. One example would be sponsorship programs that provide material aid for specific individuals. Although many organizations of this type may still talk about fighting poverty, the methods are significantly different.

Improving quality of life involves action not only by NGOs but also by governments. Global health has the potential to achieve greater political presence if governments were to incorporate aspects of human security into foreign policy. Stressing individuals' basic rights to health, food, shelter, and freedom addresses prominent inter-sectoral problems negatively impacting today's society, and may lead to greater action and resources. Integration of global health concerns into foreign policy may be hampered by approaches that are shaped by the overarching roles of defense and diplomacy.[34]

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