Contentment in the capital registered second only to that of the Northeast in September. A survey found the move from rock bottom was thanks to "a clearer political situation".

According to an August survey by Abac Poll Research Centre, Bangkok residents were the least happy in the country compared with other regions.

This year Abac Poll started its monthly analysis of "gross domestic happiness".

Out of a possible 10, Bangkok happiness scores stood at just 5.54 in August.

"In September, its happiness index climbed up to 6.47," centre director Dr Noppadon Kannika said yesterday.

He attributed the Bangkok upturn to a clearer political state of affairs.

The country has a new prime minister in Surayud Chulanont and overthrown Thaksin Shinawatra tossed in the towel as leader of the once powerful Thai Rak Thai Party following the September 19 coup.

"Nationwide, all respondents were happier about good governance," Noppadon said.

However, he noted national happiness slipped slightly in September to 6.30 out of 10 from 6.34 a month earlier. Temperaments were tempered by flood worries.

"People's happiness about the weather stood at just 2.16," he said.

Floods have devastated much of the country and hundreds of thousands are homeless or affected in some way.

The September gauge was conducted in the first week of October and quizzed 4,749 people in 25 provinces.

Heading happiness were the principles of sufficiency economy, family, helpful neighbours and national unity.

In addition, the Abac pollsters asked 469 expatriates living in Thailand how happy they were in September.

"Their overall happiness stood at 7.23," Noppadon said. Of the foreign respondents, 46.2 per cent said they embraced sufficiency-economy principles in daily life. Only 26.1 per cent of Thais did so.