The World Happiness Index is a yearly report that ranks nations based on metrics of life satisfaction, wellbeing, and quality of life. The latest poll places Kenya as the 25th unhappiest country.
Going by the World Happiness Index 2022, Kenya has stalled at about 121 in the last two years or so. In the most recent report, Kenya ticks at position 119 out of 146 countries polled. But, position 119 is a nominal figure and far from an improvement; the devil is in the details — across the board, Kenya has been in the bottom quarter and the current score is actually a drop.
According to the World Happiness Report, Kenyans have known misery, at least for some time. The last time Kenya ranked favorably was in 2017 at 112. From 2019 to 2022, Kenya’s level of happiness has ticked somewhere between 45 and 46%. The most recent index shows Kenya at 119 out of 146 countries yet position might not mean much. Looking at it with mathematical certainty, Kenya actually tumbled down from 46.07% (2020) to the current 45.43% for the last year 2021. All along, Kenya has remained in the bottom quarter on the global happiness score.
In the current report, World Happiness Index 2022, Kenya is at position 119 out of 146 countries scoring 45%. These insights are gathered from Gallup World Poll, a global data analytics and polling body based in Washington D.C.
What It Means
The Kenyan experience has been largely troubled. The contributors to this so-so score are corruption, a tough economic environment, and the crisis of the youth. In Africa, Mauritius is the happiest country ranking 49 worldwide. Other countries ranking higher are Libya, Ivory Coast, Morocco, and South Africa. The top country in the world is Finland while the last is Afghanistan. Importantly, the index bears on happiness economics and policymaking. Quality and satisfaction with life have been moderated by factors such as GDP (economic output), environmental pollution, social welfare, inequalities, and costs of living. Needless to say, they have become the talking points of today’s world.
For the incoming Kenyan government, this would be a good place to start. Policymaking and implementation must take care of the quality of life, wellbeing, and satisfaction of Wanjiku. Take us back to the days of proudly – happily – Kenyan!
