A publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, powered by the Gallup World Poll has revealed that Nigeria ranks 118th out of 146 happiest countries globally.

This is a decline by two spots from its position last year. 

The 2022 World Happiness Report is global survey data used to report how people evaluate their lives in more than 150 countries worldwide, revealing a bright light in dark times.

The index report scores are based on GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, perceptions of corruption and confidence intervals.

The country’s score is lower than 20 African countries. Mauritius ranked number one in Africa at 52, Libya ranked 86 in the world, and second in Africa.

According to the report, the top 20 countries in Africa who ranked more than Nigeria include: South Africa (91), Gambia (93), Algeria (96), Liberia (97), Congo (99), Morocco (100), Mozambique (101), and Cameroon (102), Ivory Coast (88) and Ghana(93). 

Other countries not in the top 20 but outranked Nigeria in happiness are Cameroon(89), Senegal(90), Niger(94), Gambia(96), Benin(97), Guinea(100), and Burkina Faso (111).

The index ranked Sierra Leone (140), Lesotho (141), Botswana (142), Rwanda (143), and Zimbabwe (144) respectively as the top 5 unhappiest countries in the world.

Happiest Countries in the World

For the fifth time in a row, Finland is the happiest country in the world. The remaining countries that take up the top 20 spot includes: Denmark (2), Iceland (3), Switzerland(4), Netherlands(5), Luxembourg(6), Sweden(7), Norway(8), Israel(9), New Zealand(10), Austria(11), Australia(12), Ireland(13), Germany(14), Canada(15), United States(16), United Kingdom(17), Czech Republic(18), Belgium(19), and France(20) respectively.

Lebanon and Afghanistan were ranked the unhappiest countries globally, maintaining 145 and 146 positions, respectively.