LIST: These are the happiest countries in Africa
Despite ongoing development strides in various sectors, Africa remains the least happy region globally, with an average happiness score of 4.4 in the 2025 edition of the World Happiness Report.
The annual report, which draws data from the Gallup World Poll and other sources, evaluates countries based on life satisfaction scores, social support, freedom of choice, GDP per capita, and other well-being indicators. The rankings reflect life evaluations averaged over a three-year period from 2022 to 2024.
At the top of Africa’s happiness chart is Mauritius, with an average score of 5.8, placing it 78th globally. The Indian Ocean island nation outperformed Libya, which had an identical score but ranked slightly lower at 79th globally. Known for its stable democracy, strong economy, and peaceful social environment, Mauritius has consistently scored high in recent editions of the report.
Algeria came in third among African countries with a score of 5.6, followed by South Africa and Mozambique, both scoring 5.2.
At the bottom of the list, Sierra Leone was ranked the least happy country in Africa, with a score of just 3.0—the second-lowest score globally. The country, still reeling from decades of political instability and economic hardship, saw one of the largest declines in its happiness rating, dropping 0.3 points from the previous year.
While Lesotho recorded the largest improvement—rising by 0.6 points from 3.2 to 3.8—it still ranked among the continent’s least happy nations.
Ghana ranked 125th globally with an average score of 4.3, falling behind countries like Nigeria (4.9), Kenya (4.5), and even Guinea (4.9).
Despite the bleak regional outlook, the report noted that some African countries demonstrated resilience and progress in areas such as governance, economic development, and public health.
Full Ranking of the Happiest Countries in Africa (2025);
Global Rank Country Happiness Score
78 🇲🇺 Mauritius 5.8
79 🇱🇾 Libya 5.8
84 🇩🇿 Algeria 5.6
95 🇿🇦 South Africa 5.2
96 🇲🇿 Mozambique 5.2
97 🇬🇦 Gabon 5.1
98 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire 5.1
100 🇨🇬 Congo (Brazzaville) 5.0
102 🇬🇳 Guinea 4.9
103 🇳🇦 Namibia 4.9
104 🇨🇲 Cameroon 4.9
105 🇳🇬 Nigeria 4.9
107 🇸🇳 Senegal 4.9
110 🇳🇪 Niger 4.7
112 🇲🇦 Morocco 4.6
113 🇹🇳 Tunisia 4.6
114 🇲🇷 Mauritania 4.5
115 🇰🇪 Kenya 4.5
116 🇺🇬 Uganda 4.5
117 🇬🇲 Gambia 4.4
119 🇹🇩 Chad 4.4
120 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 4.4
121 🇧🇯 Benin 4.4
122 🇸🇴 Somalia 4.3
123 🇲🇱 Mali 4.3
125 🇬🇭 Ghana 4.3
127 🇹🇬 Togo 4.3
129 🇱🇷 Liberia 4.3
130 🇲🇬 Madagascar 4.2
131 🇿🇲 Zambia 3.9
132 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 3.9
135 🇪🇬 Egypt 3.8
136 🇹🇿 Tanzania 3.8
137 🇸🇿 Eswatini 3.8
138 🇱🇸 Lesotho 3.8
139 🇰🇲 Comoros 3.8
141 🇨🇩 DR Congo 3.5
142 🇧🇼 Botswana 3.4
143 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe 3.4
144 🇲🇼 Malawi 3.3
146 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone 3.0
As Africa continues to tackle development challenges, the World Happiness Report serves as both a reflection of public sentiment and a reminder of the urgency to prioritise policies that enhance the quality of life across the continent.
