Many countries managed to maintain or even improve their happiness scores in 2022 despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the World Happiness Report. However, the report highlights a significant gap between the happiness levels of different countries, with some war-stricken countries being the least happy nations. Regionally, Europe is home to some of the happiest countries, while Africa remains the least happy region.
Top and bottom
People’s desire for happiness has remained steadfast, despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing numerous crises and challenges, the World Happiness Report reveals. Surprisingly, many countries have maintained their pre-pandemic happiness scores. Finland has been named the happiest country for the sixth year in a row and its score is significantly higher than every other country. This is attributed to factors such as strong social support, high levels of trust, and a healthy work-life balance. Other Nordic countries including Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway also feature in the top ten rankings. The United States and the United Kingdom rank 15th and 19th, respectively, with the latter dropping down the ranking for four consecutive years.
Fig.1. Country rankings by life evaluations in 2020-2022
Source: World Happiness Report 2023, Click to Enlarge
However, there is a notable disparity in happiness levels between countries. According to the report’s indicators, war-ravaged Afghanistan and Lebanon remain the two least happy nations with an average life evaluation of more than five points lower (on a 0 to 10 scale) than the top ten happiest countries. Other countries with low happiness scores include Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Congo.
Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University professor and one of the co-authors of the report, noted:
“The happiness movement shows that well-being is not a ‘soft’ and ‘vague’ idea but rather focuses on areas of life of critical importance: material conditions, mental and physical wealth, personal virtues, and good citizenship. We need to turn this wisdom into practical results to achieve more peace, prosperity, trust, civility – and yes, happiness – in our societies.”
Fig.2. Country rankings by life evaluation in 2020-2022
Source: World Happiness Report 2023, Click to Enlarge
Rankings per continent
Happiness scores across different regions of the world vary widely. Europe is home to some of the happiest nations worldwide, with a score equal to 6.4 out of 10. Finland tops the list, while war-hit Ukraine is the unhappiest country in the region.
North America has an average happiness score of 6.3, with Canada being the happiest country in the region. However, both Canada and the United States experienced a decline in their scores compared to the previous year. The Dominican Republic is the least happy country in North America.
South America has an average happiness score of 5.8, with Uruguay ranking as the happiest country in the region. Venezuela, despite being the least happy country, showed an improvement in its score from 4.9 to 5.2. Brazil and Colombia’s scores have declined with citizens reporting feeling less happy than previously.
In East Asia and Oceania, the average score is 5.6, with Singapore ranking as the happiest country in the region and India being the least happy.
The Middle East and Central Asia have an average score of 5.2, and the range of happiness scores is wider compared to other regions. Afghanistan is the least happy country, with people reporting particularly low levels of life satisfaction, predominantly after the Taliban takeover. Israel ranks as the happiest country in the region.
Africa is the least happy region with an average score of 4.4. Mauritius has the highest score in the region and Sierra Leone is the least happy country on the continent.
Fig.3. The most and least happy countries in different regions
Source: Visual Capitalist
First published in 2012, the World Happiness Report is compiled by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. This year’s report ranked over 150 countries using six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.
