Kenya ranked as 27th unhappiest nation globally

NAIROBI, Kenya March 21-Kenya has been ranked as the 27^th unhappiest nation in the world.

This is according to the World Happiness report where respondents stated that government corruption is the main source of their dissatisfaction which explains why Kenya has a higher GDP per capita than some countries above it in the index yet still ranks lower than them.

The report which is published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network stated that the life evaluation is explained by variables such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption.

It listed Kenya position 119 out of 146 countries globally with an average life evaluation of 4.543 out of 10 from 2019-2021.

“Among the six variables used to explain these levels, there has been general growth in real GDP per capita and healthy life expectancy, generally declining perceptions of corruption and freedom, declining generosity (until 2020), and fairly constant overall levels of social support,”

Further, it was reported that communities and individuals with higher levels of trust in institutions such as Nordic countries were happier than those with low levels.

“In the face of the Covid-19 global pandemic, there has been a rise in happiness across the world with higher levels of positive emotions than negative ones and people exercising more acts of kindness and benevolence towards each other,” noted the report.

Kenya ranked 23^rd in Africa with Mauritius having the highest levels of happiness among its citizens in Africa, at position 52 out of the 146 countries ranked with an average life evaluation of 6.071.

Finland remained in the top position for the fifth year running, followed by Denmark and all five Nordic countries among the top eight happiest countries.

The United States and the United Kingdom occupied positions 16 and 17 respectively.

Further, it was reported that communities and individuals with higher levels of trust in institutions were happier than those with low levels.

Kenya ranked 23^rd in Africa with Mauritius having the highest levels of happiness among its citizens, at position 52 out of the 146 countries ranked with an average life evaluation of 6.071.