In this article, we will take a look at the 10 unhappiest countries in the world. For a more extensive list, go to 30 Unhappiest Countries in the World.
10. Niger
Total Score: 80
Estimates suggest that around 40% of Niger’s population is living below the poverty line as of recent. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that over 2.1 million people in Niger are facing food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change and environmental challenges.
9. Chad
Total Score: 81.7
The World Bank reports that over 40% of Chad’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2018. According to the UNHCR, Chad hosts over 470,000 refugees and asylum seekers, adding strain to already limited resources and services.
8. Burundi
Total Score: 81.7
According to the World Bank, around 60% of Burundi’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2019. The Institute for Economics and Peace ranks Burundi as one of the least peaceful countries in the world, with ongoing political unrest contributing to instability and suffering.
7. Syria
Total Score: 86.7
The Syrian Center for Policy Research estimates that over 80% of Syrians live below the poverty line as of 2021, compared to 28% before the conflict. The UN Refugee Agency reports that over 6.7 million Syrians are internally displaced, with millions more seeking refuge abroad due to conflict and violence.
6. Yemen
Total Score: 86.9
The UNDP reports that Yemen ranks among the lowest in the world on the Human Development Index. Action Against Hunger reported that more than 25% of Yemen’s population suffers from mental health disorders, with rates likely exacerbated by ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.
5. Haiti
Total Score: 87.1
Estimates suggest around 60% of Haiti’s population lives below the national poverty line, with many facing extreme poverty. According to the World Food Programme, over 4.4 million people in Haiti are food insecure, exacerbated by natural disasters and economic challenges.
4. South Sudan
Total Score: 87.3
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that 7.2 million people in South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022, representing over half the population. The World Bank estimates that South Sudan’s GDP per capita was only $246 in 2020, among the lowest in the world.
3. Afghanistan
Total Score: 88.9
Around half of Afghans are below the poverty line. Afghanistan has suffered decades of conflict, resulting in tremendous loss of life and property. On top of that, addiction is endemic in the country.
2. Central African Republic (CAR)
Total Score: 90
The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) ranks CAR among the lowest in the world. The World Food Programme reports that 2.8 million people in CAR are in need of humanitarian assistance due to conflict and displacement.
1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Total Score: 91.2
The World Bank estimates that over 70% of the DRC’s population lived below the national poverty line in 2018. The Global Peace Index ranked the DRC as one of the least peaceful countries in the world, with ongoing conflicts contributing to instability and suffering.
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