Nigeria has slipped to 106th place in the World Happiness Report, extending a steady decline in global life satisfaction rankings and raising fresh concerns about the well-being of its population, particularly young people.
The latest report, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in partnership with global institutions, shows Nigeria falling from 105th in 2025 and 102nd in 2024. The rankings are based on data from the Gallup World Poll, using a three-year average across more than 140 countries.
Across Africa, Nigeria trails several countries with stronger social support systems and relative stability. Mauritius ranked as the happiest country on the continent at 73rd globally, followed by Libya (81st), Algeria (83rd), and Mozambique (93rd). Other African nations, including Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Niger, and Tunisia, also placed ahead of Nigeria.
Globally, Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
The report highlights shifting global patterns in well-being, including a notable decline in happiness among young people in developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Analysts link part of this trend to high social media usage, which has been associated with lower levels of well-being when excessive.
The United Nations emphasised that happiness remains a fundamental human goal and urged governments to adopt more inclusive and balanced development strategies. According to the report, effective governance, strong institutions, efficient public services, and equitable economic systems are critical drivers of life satisfaction.
For Nigeria, the latest ranking underscores the need to go beyond macroeconomic improvements and address deeper structural issues such as inequality, social welfare, and institutional performance.
The findings align with broader priorities under the Sustainable Development Goals, which advocate integrating economic, social, and environmental policies to improve overall quality of life.
Analysts say reversing Nigeria’s downward trend will require sustained investment in governance reforms, public service delivery, and youth-focused policies to improve long-term well-being.
