Mumbai: The city that never sleeps has yet another reason to smile, Mumbai has been named Asia’s happiest city for 2025, according to the latest Time Out survey. The annual global study, which gathered responses from over 18,000 residents across major cities, explored how people feel about their lifestyle, community, culture, and quality of life in their hometowns.
Participants rated their cities on parameters such as food, nightlife, culture, and overall satisfaction, while also responding to questions that captured the emotional pulse of urban living, from whether their city makes them happy to whether they find joy in everyday moments.
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04Oct 2025
Why Mumbai stands out
The survey found that a remarkable 94% of Mumbaikars said their city makes them happy, the highest in Asia this year.
Other notable findings include:
• 89% of residents said they feel happier in Mumbai than in any other city they’ve lived in.
• 88% agreed that people around them seem genuinely happy.
• 87% felt that the city’s overall happiness quotient has risen in recent times.
Experts believe Mumbai’s lively social scene, vibrant street food culture, career prospects, and strong entertainment ecosystem have helped it cultivate a spirit of optimism and resilience, even amid challenges like traffic congestion and fast-paced living.
“Despite its chaos, Mumbai has a rhythm of its own, it gives people purpose, belonging, and an unmatched energy,” said one survey participant.
Asia’s top 5 happiest cities for 2025
Mumbai was closely followed by Beijing and Shanghai, which secured the second and third spots, respectively. In both Chinese cities, over 90% of locals reported feeling content with their urban lives, citing modern infrastructure, cultural richness, and youth-friendly environments as major happiness factors.
With its blend of ambition and warmth, Mumbai’s latest accolade reaffirms its reputation as a city that not only hustles but also celebrates life, one smile, one street, and one shared moment at a time.
