Kenya ranked 114 in World Happiness Report

Finland has been ranked as the world's happiest country, for the seventh year in a row. In contrast, Kenya was ranked 114 out of 143 countries ranked in this year’s World Happiness Report. Afghanistan ranks as the unhappiest country.

The rankings were released on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the International Day of Happiness.

The annual ranking is based on six factors including social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption. However, the economic factor is a key indicator of how happy people in different countries are.

Interestingly, the report shows that while better healthcare in developed nations has resulted in people living longer, a growing elderly population will translate into more cases of dementia and thus contribute to cases of global unhappiness.

“As the global population of older adults continues to rise, the number of people living with dementia is also expected to grow, reaching approximately 139 million dementia cases by the year 2050,” says the report. “Dementia is an age-related clinical syndrome that results in progressive or persistent loss of memory and thinking abilities, which in turn can negatively impact well-being.”

In the developing world, the higher one advances professionally is taken as a major factor that affects his happiness and that of his family.

Among those who felt that way is Ciku Waichigo, a local volunteer who used to think that the only way to be happy was to climb the corporate ladder and improve her lot in life. But happiness kept eluding her, as do millions of Kenyans.

“I used to think the key to happiness was in climbing the corporate ladder and growing in my career,” she says. “However, I did not find lasting happiness.”

Waichigo is not alone. Many people have gone far and wide looking for the key to lasting happiness. According to the World Happiness Report 2023, nearly 60 per cent of Kenya’s population is unhappy.

Yet, as the report added, “It is striking how public interest [in happiness] has grown in recent years. This can be seen in newspaper stories, google searches and academic research. It can also be seen in books where talk of happiness has overtaken talk of income and GDP.”

The United Nations says happiness is a fundamental human goal with the General Assembly calling for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.” 

This year, the day seeks to “promote the happiness and well-being of all people” by raising awareness of the social dangers posed by chronic unhappiness

What, then, is the key to happiness? It all depends on where one seeks the answer. For the spiritually-minded, this can be attained by turning to the pages of the Bible and such-like literature.

To Christians, the Holy Book states that those who give are happier than those receiving. According to Victor Karoki who is the national spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kenya, a person can gain happiness by practically addressing specific challenges such as coping with strategy, employment and money, physical and mental health, relationships and habits or addictions.

“We want everyone to be happy,” says Karoki. “That is why we visit our neighbours and show them the tools they need to lead happy lives.”

World’s 20 Happiest Countries In 2024
1.    Finland
2.    Denmark
3.    Iceland
4.    Sweden
5.    Israel
6.    Netherlands
7.    Norway
8.    Luxembourg
9.    Switzerland
10.    Australia
11.    New Zealand
12.    Costa Rica
13.    Kuwait
14.    Austria
15.    Canada
16.    Belgium
17.    Ireland
18.    Czechia
19.    Lithuania
20.    United Kingdom