The World Happiness Report says
Africans who have social support as measured by a set of friends to
count on at all times, have freedom to make life choices, and can hold
their governments accountable to prevent corruption, are the happiest....
Additionally, the fifth annual study reports by the United Nations Development Solution Network’s says that other long established recipes for happiness are Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and healthy years of life expectancy among other things.
The report's measurements of subjective well-being can also be used effectively to assess national progress by highlighting policy implications by case studies. It also measures causes of misery.
The report covers the period of years from 2014-16 and collected data from over 155 countries worldwide of which 44 were African countries.
Compiled below are the ten happiest countries in Africa, according to the World Happiness Report 2017.
1. Algeria
Ranked
number one for a second consecutive time, Algeria is the happiest
country in Africa. Globally, it dropped 15 positions to number 53.
According
to World Happiness Report, GDP per capita and social support played big
role in the ranking for the North Africa country with a Mediterranean
coastline and a Sahara desert interior.
2. Mauritius
Also
sticking to its last year position is Mauritius, the Indian Ocean
island nation with a booming economy. The citizens expressed faith in
its social support system but also the GDP per capita was equally
important helping the ranking with lower perceptions of corruption
experienced in the country.
Healthy life
expectancy also boosted the happiness ranking. Mauritius also had the
advantage of having a small population which enables the government meet
needs of the population easily.
3. Libya
The current situation
may make Libya rightfully be termed as fractured and chaotic but that
didn’t stop the country from been ranked number 3 as the happiest
country in Africa and number 68 globally.
Social support and GDP per capita played the biggest role for the ranking.
4. Morocco
Globally ranked number 84, Morocco the country that rejoined Africa Union in January 2017 after more than 30 years in the cold, it has been ranked number 4 in Africa happiest countries.
In Morocco happiness came from GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy and freedom to make life choices.
5. Somalia
Dropping a position lower, Somalia even if marred by famine
and conflicts, has been ranked the fifth happiest country in Africa.
But unlike most African states on the list, Somalia does not depend on
GDP per capita to be ranked high.
Social
support and freedom to make life choices kept the country highly
ranked. However, like previous year, the country has inequality in terms
of happiness.
6. Nigeria
Militant Islamist group Boko Haram
might be causing havoc in the country through waves of bombings,
assassinations and abductions, but Nigeria remains a happy nation
according to the UN’s report.
Social support
followed by GDP per capita contributed to the high ranking while healthy
life expectancy and perception on corruption barely making any impact.
7. South Africa
After
South Africa fired its Finance Minister, its currency, the rand
plummeted. But that does not affect the happiness of the country as
shown by newly released World Happiness Report.
Shooting from 15 positions last year, South Africa
in the report showed social support and GDP per capita has major
influence on their happiness.
Freedom to make life choices had a great impact too on the ranking with perception on corruption least influential.
8. Tunisia
Dropping
three positions from number five, Tunisia happiness ranking was
supported by GDP per capita, social support and healthy life expectancy
with freedom to make life choices making a good contribution.
9. Egypt
To
climb 16 positions up from last year ranking to number 9, Egypt relied
on its GDP per capita and social support. Healthy life expectancy also
propelled the country ranking in the scale of Africa happiest countries.
Globally, the country US President Trump has shifted course on is ranked number 104.
10. Sierra Leone
After recovery from civil war and most recently from Ebola epidemic,
Sierra Leone, the West Africa country known for its white beaches and
slave trade history has jumped five positions to number 5.
High
social support is one to thank for in the rankings while GDP per capita
and freedom to make life choices almost contributed equally.
The
unhappiest countries in Africa are South Sudan ranked 37th, followed by
Liberia, Guinea and Togo. Rwanda comes in 41st followed by its East
African sister Tanzania, while Burundi came in 43rd and closing the list
is Central African Republic in position 44th.
No comments: