Nigeria ranked 102nd globally in happiness, reflecting modest life satisfaction and social challenges, according to the World Happiness Report 2026
Nigeria has been ranked the 102nd happiest country in the world, according to data from the World Happiness Report as compiled on World Population Review.
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The ranking places Nigeria among the lower half of countries globally, reflecting modest levels of life satisfaction compared to global averages.
The report evaluates happiness using key indicators such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
With a position of 102nd out of over 140 countries surveyed, Nigeria also ranked around 11th within Africa in the same period, showing that while it trails many nations globally, it performs moderately within the continent.
However, more recent data indicates a slight decline. In the 2025 edition of the report, Nigeria dropped to 105th position out of 147 countries, suggesting worsening living conditions or declining public perception of wellbeing.
Despite this, Nigeria’s happiness score has remained relatively stable over time, hovering around 4.8 to 5.0 on a scale of 0 to 10, which is below the global average of about 5.5.
Globally, countries such as Finland, Denmark, and Iceland continue to dominate the top positions due to strong social systems, economic stability, and high levels of trust and wellbeing among citizens.
The rankings are based on people’s self-evaluation of their lives rather than purely economic data, making them a broader reflection of quality of life and societal wellbeing.
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Overall, Nigeria’s placement at 102nd highlights ongoing challenges in economic conditions, governance, and social welfare, while also pointing to opportunities for improvement in national wellbeing.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
