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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In 2023, Finland was crowned as the happiest country across the globe by the World Happiness Report. CNN Travel reported that the Nordic country has retained its title for the sixth consecutive year, showcasing outstanding performance in key areas such as healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, and low corruption.
The World Happiness Report also includes countries on the opposite spectrum. These countries face ongoing hardships and struggle to provide a safe environment for their citizens. Below, we’ll examine the top 10 most unhappy countries in the world.
List of the Unhappiest Countries in the World
With additional information from Statista, Insider Monkey, and other sources, the following is the list of the world’s most unhappy countries in 2023 according to the 2024 World Happiness Report:
1. Afghanistan (Score: 1.72)
Afghanistan was considered to be the world’s most unhappy country in 2023. With a score of 1.72, the country has been grappling with a multitude of challenges, including low levels of human development.
Moreover, the situation has been further exacerbated after the Taliban took control in 2021, as highlighted in Statista.
2. Lebanon (Score: 2.7)
Coming in second position is Lebanon, with a score of 2.7 out of 10. This figure, according to LBC International, was attributed to multiple factors, from economic woes to social unrest.
3. Lesotho (Score: 3.19)
Officially recognized as the Kingdom of Lesotho, this South African country faces significant security and governance challenges. For instance, the army's involvement in politics has led to instability and a security crisis.
Furthermore, Lesotho still struggles to combat the recurring corruption and fulfill women’s rights, making it among the most unhappy countries in the world. Regardless, according to Freedom House, the country has made notable progress, although there is still more to improve.
4. Sierra Leone (Score: 3.24)
Poverty remains a major problem in Sierra Leone. A World Bank report indicates that more than half of the population was living below the national poverty line in 2018.
In addition to its poor performance on the happiness index, scoring 3.24, the West African country ranks low on the human development index (HDI), says Insider Monkey.
5. Democratic Republic of Congo (Score: 3.29)
The prevailing poverty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has significantly impacted the country’s overall quality of life. According to data from the World Bank, in 2018, more than 70 percent of the population lived below the national poverty line.
This resulted in the DRC scoring 3.29 out of 10 on the happiness index. Persisting instability and suffering due to ongoing conflicts complicate the alarming situation, making the African country among the least peaceful.
6. Zimbabwe (Score: 3.34)
Zimbabwe faces economic difficulties aggravated by food shortages and malnutrition. The World Food Programme notes that over 60 percent of Zimbabweans suffer from food insecurity.
7. Botswana (Score: 3.38)
Botswana is another most unhappy country in South Africa. Despite being praised as a diamond-based country, Botswana struggles to tackle social problems, such as a notable increase in the unemployment rate, resulting in poverty and inequality.
According to the World Bank, the African country witnessed its unemployment rate rise from 18.9 percent in 2015 to 23.6 percent by 2023.
8. Malawi (Score: 3.42)
As of December 2023, the United Nations reported that over 70 percent of Malawi's population was living in poverty. Additionally, the country is confronted with numerous health challenges, including a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS.
9. Eswatini (Score: 3.5)
Similar to Malawi, the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS remains a major concern in Eswatini. The International Trade Administration adds that the country still has not found effective solutions to tackle high unemployment and economic inequality.
10. Zambia (Score: 3.5)
Zambia is rich in natural resources, but it has been experiencing difficulties in various aspects. As cited by the World Bank, the combination of health, economic, and agricultural problems emerges as an obstacle to improving the quality of life in Zambia, hence resulting in a lower happiness ranking.
These ten most unhappy countries struggle to meet the basic needs of their populations. Previously, we have also covered some of the least safe countries in the world, where the state of peace and stability have not been achieved. Click the link for more.
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