The Most Miserable Countries in the World

Population and Social Characteristics

Published: April 2, 2024 2:50 pm

Last Updated: April 3, 2024 5:22 pm

Can people be happy living in poverty or in a place where violence is rampant or in a corrupt country? While happiness is subjective, these factors affect a nation’s state of overall well-being — and this is clearly seen in the ranking of countries by happiness. Gallup World Poll surveyed people of 143 countries, asking them to evaluate their life on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the best. And the results, as noted, are not surprising.

To find the 40 most miserable countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the World Happiness Report 2024. Countries are ranked by the average score for the years 2021-2023, and the 40 with the lowest score are listed here. We also added gross domestic product per capita in current U.S. dollars, life expectancy at birth (two factors found to explain happiness on a national level), and population totals from the World Bank.

Most of the countries on the list — 26 — are in sub-Saharan Africa with six others in the Middle East and North Africa. Another seven are in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Finally, one is a former Soviet republic, and it is likely not a surprise to find it on the list given it has been mired in a war that was forced on it since February 2022. Yes, Ukraine ranks 39th most miserable. (Conversely, these are the world’s happiest countries: see where the US ranks

All of the most miserable countries have lower GDP per capita than the world average of $12,688, with GDPs per capita ranging from $7,739 in Botswana (seventh most miserable) to $356 in Afghanistan — the most miserable country in the world. Indeed, in 28 of the 40 countries, the report found that GDP per capita is the factor explaining most of the (un)happiness score. In the other 12, the social support factor explains the score the most.

The 19th most miserable countries have also become more miserable compared to the three-year period a decade ago, with Lebanon’s score decreasing the most, followed by Afghanistan. In general, “happiness fell in South Asia in all age groups. It also fell in North America, especially among the young. And it fell in the Middle East and North Africa in all age groups,” the report notes.

Full methodology

To find the 40 most miserable countries in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the World Happiness Report 2024, which is published in partnership with Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and an editorial board. Countries are ranked by the average score for the years 2021-2023.

The Cantril ladder score is based on the Gallup World Survey, which asked people across 137 countries the following question: “Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?”

The report attempts to explain a country’s average ladder score into components explained by six hypothesized underlying determinants: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, perceived freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perception of corruption. These factors have “been broadly found in the research literature to explain national-level differences in life evaluations.”

24/7 Wall St. added 2021 average life expectancy at birth, 2022 population, and gross domestic product per capita data from the World Bank. GDP per capita is in current U.S. dollars. Data for Taiwan was sourced from FocusEconomics for GDP per capita and the CIA World Factbook for life expectancy and population figures.

40. Cameroon

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.874 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 106)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 107)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,563 — #117 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 60.3 years — #129 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 27,914,536

39. Ukraine

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.873 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 82)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 115)
GDP per capita, 2022: $4,534 — #87 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 69.6 years — #94 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 38,000,000

38. Namibia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.832 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : N/A
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 105)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 114)
GDP per capita, 2022: $5,031 — #84 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 59.3 years — #134 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 2,567,012

37. Morocco

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.795 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 98)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 113)
GDP per capita, 2022: $3,442 — #98 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 74.0 years — #60 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 37,457,971

36. Pakistan

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.657 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 107)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 122)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,589 — #116 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 66.1 years — #107 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 235,824,862

35. Niger

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.556 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Old (age group rank: 101)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 114)
GDP per capita, 2022: $585 — #138 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 61.6 years — #124 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 26,207,977

34. Burkina Faso

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.548 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 107)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 116)
GDP per capita, 2022: $830 — #131 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 59.3 years — #133 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 22,673,762

33. Mauritania

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.505 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Old (age group rank: 93)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 112)
GDP per capita, 2022: $2,065 — #110 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 64.4 years — #112 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 4,736,139

32. Gambia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.485 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : N/A
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 110)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 116)
GDP per capita, 2022: $808 — #132 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 62.1 years — #121 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 2,705,992

31. Chad

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.471 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Old (age group rank: 94)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 111)
GDP per capita, 2022: $717 — #134 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 52.5 years — #143 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 17,723,315

30. Kenya

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.470 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 109)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 123)
GDP per capita, 2022: $2,099 — #109 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 61.4 years — #125 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 54,027,487

29. Tunisia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.422 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 118)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 118)
GDP per capita, 2022: $3,747 — #95 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 73.8 years — #64 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 12,356,117

28. Benin

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.377 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 115)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 122)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,303 — #122 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 59.8 years — #131 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 13,352,864

27. Uganda

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Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.372 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 111)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 134)
GDP per capita, 2022: $964 — #128 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 62.7 years — #119 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 47,249,585

26. Myanmar

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.354 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Old (age group rank: 102)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 115)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,149 — #124 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 65.7 years — #109 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 54,179,306

25. Cambodia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.341 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 112)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 122)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,760 — #112 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 69.6 years — #95 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 16,767,842

24. Ghana

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.289 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 121)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 125)
GDP per capita, 2022: $2,204 — #107 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 63.8 years — #113 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 33,475,870

23. Liberia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.269 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 113)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 127)
GDP per capita, 2022: $755 — #133 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 60.7 years — #128 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 5,302,681

22. Mali

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.232 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 125)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 120)
GDP per capita, 2022: $833 — #130 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 58.9 years — #137 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 22,593,590

21. Madagascar

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.228 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: Old (age group rank: 109)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 123)
GDP per capita, 2022: $517 — #140 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 64.5 years — #111 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 29,611,714

20. Togo

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.214 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Positive
Happiest age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 112)
Least happy age group: Old (age group rank: 127)
GDP per capita, 2022: $943 — #129 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 61.6 years — #123 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 8,848,699

19. Jordan

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.186 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 114)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 130)
GDP per capita, 2022: $4,311 — #89 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 74.3 years — #59 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 11,285,869

18. India

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 4.054 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 127)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 127)
GDP per capita, 2022: $2,411 — #104 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 67.2 years — #104 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 1,417,173,173

17. Egypt

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 3.977 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 130)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 126)
GDP per capita, 2022: $4,295 — #90 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 70.2 years — #91 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 110,990,103

16. Sri Lanka

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 3.898 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 123)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 128)
GDP per capita, 2022: $3,354 — #99 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 76.4 years — #44 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 22,181,000

15. Bangladesh

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 3.886 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 128)
Least happy age group: UpperMiddle (age group rank: 129)
GDP per capita, 2022: $2,688 — #101 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 72.4 years — #75 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 171,186,372

14. Ethiopia

Happiness score, 2021-2023: 3.861 out of 10
Decade change in happiness : Negative
Happiest age group: Young (age group rank: 131)
Least happy age group: LowerMiddle (age group rank: 130)
GDP per capita, 2022: $1,028 — #126 highest of 143 countries
Life expectancy, 2021: 65.0 years — #110 highest of 143 countries
Population, 2022: 123,379,924

13. Tanzania

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