In spite of the economic hardship visibly biting its citizens, Nigeria has been notably excluded from the list of the world’s least happy countries, as 23 African nations featured in the bottom tier of the 2024 World Happiness Report.
The report, which ranks 147 countries based on factors such as social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and corruption, places Afghanistan at the bottom of the list.
Among African countries, Sierra Leone (146), Malawi (144), Zimbabwe (143), Botswana (142), and DR Congo (141) are among the lowest-ranked. Other African countries featured include Comoros, Lesotho, Eswatini, Tanzania, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zambia, Madagascar, Liberia, Togo, Ghana, Mali, Somalia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Uganda, and Kenya (ranked 115).
The omission of Nigeria from the bottom ranks may be seen as a surprising, yet optimistic signal, given the country’s long-standing challenges such as insecurity, economic hardship, and political instability. Experts suggest that strong social support systems and resilience among citizens may contribute to Nigeria’s relatively higher happiness index.
Outside of Africa, other countries in the bottom 25 include Lebanon, Yemen, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Myanmar, Cambodia, and India, among others.
The World Happiness Report, an annual publication by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, is considered a global benchmark for measuring well-being and life satisfaction across the globe.
While Nigeria’s exclusion from the lowest ranks is a positive development, stakeholders emphasize the need for sustained efforts in improving living standards, access to healthcare, education, and good governance to truly enhance citizens’ well-being.
