Is Kenya a country of sad people? Survey suggests it is

Finland ranked the happiest country in the world

Kenya has been placed 115th globally in the happiest country ranking by the World Happiness Report 2025.

Neighbouring Uganda was ranked 116 in a report tjhat focused on the impact of caring and sharing on people’s happiness.

“Like ‘mercy’ in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, caring is “twice-blessed” – it blesses those who give and those who receive,” the report said.

Libya was Africa’s happiest country, ranking at number 79 followed by Algeria (84) and South Africa (95).

Nordic countries once again led the happiness rankings. Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden took the top four positions respectively.

Netherlands was fifth followed by Costa Rica (sixth), Norway (seventh), Israel (eighth), Luxembourg (ninth) and Mexico (10th).

Afghanistan was ranked the least happiest country at 147, followed by Sierra Leone (146), Lebanon (145), Malawi (144), Zimbabwe (143), Botswana (142), Dr Congo (141), Yemen (140), Comoros (139), Lesotho (138) and Eswatini (137).

World Happiness Report is a publication of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup, the UN, Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the WHR’s Editorial Board.

The report investigated effects of giving and receiving: the benefits to the recipients of caring behaviour and the benefits to those who care for others.

“There are many ways in which we care and share with each other. Perhaps the most universal example is sharing meals.”

The report said generous behaviours are associated with- and often directly cause- increased wellbeing among givers across the world.

It said the Nordic countries also rank among the top places for expected and actual return of lost wallets.

The report noted that on average, countries that provide more untied official development assistance (ODA) are happier.

“Countries with high refugee population shares are less happy, as refugee flows are more often based on location than invitation.”

The report said happiness inequality within countries has increased by about one-quarter over the past two decades, while happiness inequality between countries has remained roughly constant.

“Engaging in benevolent acts and expecting kindness from others both matter for individual happiness levels.”