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 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. – G
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