Nigeria not among top 100 happiest countries, but 8 other African nations make the cut
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Scandinavians once again dominate the charts but Nigerians buffeted on all sides by hardship, the consequence of the mismanagement of the economy, attest that they are not among the top 100 happiest people on earth, according to World Happiness Report.
Nigeria ranked 105th in the 2025 global survey of citizens, Finland maintained its position as the world’s happiest country for eight years back-to-back. The United States dropped to a record low of 24th.
The report coincides with the United Nations International Day of Happiness on March 20 and attributed the decline in happiness in countries like the US and parts of Europe to falling happiness levels and weakening social trust.
In contrast, researchers revealed that kindness and social unity remain underestimated sources of happiness.
“People’s fellow citizens are better than they think they are, and to realize that will make you happier, of course, but it’ll also change the way you think about your neighbors,” said John Helliwell, a founding editor of the report.
The report draws on Gallup World Poll data from over 140 countries, using life evaluations and six key variables, including GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
“Nordic countries like Finland continue to benefit from universally available and high-quality health, education and social support systems. Inequality of wellbeing is also low,” said Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup.
Costa Rica and Mexico broke into the top 10 for the first time, with rankings of sixth and tenth respectively.
Other top-ranking countries include Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list at 147, followed by Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
The report lists below the top 100 happiest countries in 2025:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Costa Rica
- Norway
- Israel
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Lithuania
- Austria
- Canada
- Slovenia
- Czechia
- United Arab Emirates
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Belize
- Poland
- Taiwan Province of China
- Uruguay
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Serbia
- Saudi Arabia
- France
- Singapore
- Romania
- Brazil
- El Salvador
- Spain
- Estonia
- Italy
- Panama
- Argentina
- Kazakhstan
- Guatemala
- Chile
- Viet Nam
- Nicaragua
- Malta
- Thailand
- Slovakia
- Latvia
- Oman
- Uzbekistan
- Paraguay
- Japan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea
- Bahrain
- Portugal
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Honduras
- Malaysia
- Peru
- Russian Federation
- Cyprus
- China
- Hungary
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Montenegro
- Croatia
- Jamaica
- Bolivia
- Kyrgyzstan
- Dominican Republic
- Mongolia
- Mauritius
- Libya
- Republic of Moldova
- Greece
- Venezuela
- Indonesia
- Algeria
- Bulgaria
- North Macedonia
- Armenia
- Hong Kong SAR of China
- Albania
- Tajikistan
- Georgia
- Nepal
- Lao PDR
- Türkiye
- South Africa
- Mozambique
- Gabon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Iran
- Congo
Read also:
Husband arrested by police for allegedly stabbing wife to death in the heat of domestic argument
