In the latest World Happiness Report, Sierra Leone has been ranked 135th among 146 nations surveyed, with Nordic nations dominating the top 10.

In West Africa, Sierra Leone ranks lowest compared Mali (115), Liberia (118), Chad (125), Mauritania (131), Togo (133), Ivory Coast (83), Ghana(93) , Cameroon(89), Senegal(90), Niger (94), Gambia (96), Benin (97), Guinea(100), Burkina Faso(111) and  Nigeria (114).

Mauritius at 49 in the world is the happiest nation in Africa.

The scoring is based on factors such as healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support in times of trouble, low corruption and high social trust, generosity in a community where people look after each other and freedom to make key life decisions.

For the fifth year in a row, Finland is the world’s happiest country, based largely on life evaluations from the Gallup World Poll.

The Nordic country and its neighbours Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland all score very well

Denmark comes in at No. 2 in this year’s rankings, followed by Iceland at No. 3. Sweden and Norway are seventh and eighth, respectively.

Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg take places 4 through 6, with Israel coming in at No. 9 and New Zealand rounding out the top 10.

Canada (No. 15), the United States (No. 16) and the United Kingdom (No. 17) all made it into the top 20.

The world’s top 20 happiest countries, 2022 edition
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Netherlands
6. Luxembourg
7. Sweden
8. Norway
9. Israel
10. New Zealand
11. Austria
12. Australia
13. Ireland
14. Germany
15. Canada
16. United States
17. United Kingdom
18. Czechia (Czech Republic)
19. Belgium
20. France