Kenyan citizens’ happiness has experienced a downturn this year, marking the country’s first decline since 2018, reveals a recent report.
The 2024 World Happiness Report positions Kenya at 114 out of 143 countries surveyed, a drop from its previous ranking of 111. Happiness levels were assessed based on individuals’ self-reported evaluations of their lives.
Kenya’s last recorded decline was in 2018, dropping to 124 from its 2017 ranking of 112.
Meanwhile, Finland maintains its position as the world’s happiest nation, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and Israel.
Conversely, the report identifies Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Lebanon, and Afghanistan as the world’s least happy countries.
Within the region, Kenya outperforms its neighbors Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Malawi.
The report highlights that young people under 30 are the happiest demographic globally, while the upper middle-aged group (aged 45-59) ranks lowest in happiness.
The World Happiness Report, produced annually in collaboration with Gallup, the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, arrives amidst economic challenges for Kenyans, including a high cost of living and increased taxation.
The government’s recent implementation of new taxes, such as the Affordable Housing Act, has further strained citizens’ finances, contributing to the overall decline in happiness levels.
Despite these challenges, the report underscores ongoing efforts to monitor and address the well-being of citizens on a global scale.
