– 2025 Report
Sierra Leone has been ranked as the least happy country in the world in the latest World Happiness Report 2025, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.
The report, which assesses 140 countries based on key indicators such as social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels, places Sierra Leone at the bottom of the global rankings.
The World Happiness Report is widely recognized as a measure of a country’s overall well-being, focusing on citizens’ quality of life and satisfaction rather than just economic performance. This year, Sierra Leone replaced Afghanistan and Lebanon as the least happy nation, reflecting severe socio-economic struggles, governance challenges, and widespread poverty.
Finland has once again been ranked as the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year.
Key factors contributing to Sierra Leone’s position as the world’s least happy country include:
Low Life Expectancy and Poor Healthcare: With limited access to quality healthcare, high infant mortality rates, and widespread preventable diseases, many Sierra Leoneans face significant health challenges.
Economic Hardship and Unemployment: A high cost of living, rising inflation, and widespread unemployment have left many struggling to afford basic necessities.
Education Challenges: While there have been efforts to improve education, many children still lack access to quality schools and vocational training, limiting their future prospects.
Weak Social Support Systems: Many Sierra Leoneans lack government assistance or strong community support networks, making them more vulnerable to economic shocks and personal hardships.
Corruption and Governance Issues: Public trust in government remains low, with concerns over corruption, lack of accountability, and ineffective policies impacting national progress.
The top 10 happiest countries for 2025 are:
Finland
Denmark
Iceland
Sweden
Netherlands
Costa Rica
Norway
Israel
Luxembourg
Mexico
Other notable countries include:
Australia
New Zealand
Switzerland
Belgium
Ireland
Lithuania
Austria
Canada
Slovenia
Czech Republic
At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan (No. 147) ranks as the least happy country, followed by Sierra Leone (No. 146), Lebanon (No. 145), Malawi (No. 144), and Zimbabwe (No. 143), which make up the rest of the bottom five.