15 Countries Ranking Lowest in the World Happiness Report
Citizens of the United States enjoy rights and privileges that elude many in other parts of the world. This fact contributes to its 15th position in the 2023 World Happiness Report.
But what about the countries at the bottom of the list?
Facing political unrest and economic upheaval, among other issues, the world’s unhappiest countries are a sobering reminder of how lucky Americans are.
Ranking Happiness
Gallup World Poll surveyed around 1,000 people from each of the 137 participating nations to attempt to quantify the happiest countries in the world. Participants were asked to evaluate their happiness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being their best possible life and 0 being the worst. Gallup weighted the responses to represent each country’s current population. The World Happiness Report used this average to rank the happiest countries in the world, as follows.
1: Afghanistan
Afghanistan scored the lowest on Gallup’s poll by far, with an average happiness score of 1.859 out of 10. With recent crackdowns by the Taliban on everything from women’s rights to free speech, the country remains in a state of constant turmoil.
2: Lebanon
Due to extreme government mismanagement, Lebanon plunged into an economic crisis in 2019, from which it has not yet recovered. As a result, nearly 80 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. It’s no surprise, then, that the country sits nearly at the bottom of the World Happiness Report with an average happiness score of 2.392 out of 10.
3: Sierra Leone
While the west African nation of Sierra Leone seems to be on the upswing, the aftereffects of a catastrophic civil war that ended in 2002 can still be felt. Police brutality and media censorship are still serious issues facing the nation, contributing to its low average happiness score of 3.138 out of 10.
4: Zimbabwe
High mortality rates and growing economic uncertainty play a part in Zimbabwe’s poor placement on the World Happiness Report. With 63 percent of the country living in poverty, it’s no surprise that Zimbabweans reported an average happiness score of 3.204 out of 10.
5: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has an average happiness score of 3.207 out of 10. The low rating reflects a situation in this central African nation that Human Rights Watch calls “dire.” Over 100 active militant groups, 5.8 million displaced people, plus a severe food crisis continue to plague the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
6: Botswana
While Botswana is considered one of the most stable democracies in Africa, the same political party has held power since the country gained independence in 1966. This perception of political corruption could be why the southern African nation earned an average happiness score of 3.435 out of 10.
7: Malawi
Economic instability is a major factor contributing to Malawi’s average happiness score of 3.495 out of 10. Crop failures and limited access to clean water continue to plague the east African country, though humanitarian efforts are being made to help improve the situation in this mostly peaceful nation.
8: Comoros
Comoros is an island nation off the eastern coast of Africa that struggles with poverty and resource scarcity. Coupled with a state-run news network that’s often accused of censorship, it’s a recipe for a low average happiness score of 3.545 out of 10.
9: Tanzania
With new leadership and a strong tourism industry, things are starting to look up for Tanzania. Though much of the country still lives in poverty, new developments, including investment in developing its offshore natural gas reserves, mean that the nation’s 3.694 average happiness score might start to climb.
10: Zambia
Inflation and inequality are just a few of the factors that contribute to Zambia’s average happiness score of 3.982 out of 10. Poverty also plays a major role, with more than 61 percent of the country’s nearly 20 million residents living below the poverty line.
11: Madagascar
Perched just off the coast of southern Africa, Madagascar remains one of the world’s poorest countries despite a booming tourism industry. Devastating cyclones, political unrest, and violent crime all factor into the island nation’s average happiness score of 4.019 out of 10.
12: India
Religious persecution against Muslim minorities and a crackdown on media and free speech contribute to India’s poor rating on the 2023 World Happiness Report. The country ranked twelfth from the bottom with an average happiness score of 4.036 out of 10.
13: Liberia
Africa’s oldest republic was plagued by years-long civil wars in the 1990s that left the country on the verge of economic collapse. While the nation is on the upswing, poverty and resource scarcity continue to be major issues contributing to Liberia’s average happiness score of 4.042 out of 10.
14: Ethiopia
Since November 2020, a violent conflict has raged in the Tigray region of Ethiopia that has since spilled over into other regions of the country. Ethnic cleansing and other heinous war crimes are major factors in the country’s low average happiness score of 4.091 out of 10.
15: Jordan
Political unrest, media censorship, and an influx of Syrian refugees in recent years have put a strain on the citizens of Jordan. The nation’s average happiness score of 4.120 out of 10 reflects this unease.
A Note About the Data
The World Happiness Report uses a three-year average of survey results to come up with its happiness rankings. This means that the 2023 World Happiness Report takes into account survey results from 2020-2022, meaning the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced results.
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