Mauritius has been named the happiest country in Africa for 2026, according to the World Happiness Report, while Sierra Leone ranks at the bottom of the continent.
The report, published on March 19 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network in collaboration with Gallup World Poll and the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, surveyed 147 countries globally, including 41 in Africa.
Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, scored 5.939 points on the Cantril ladder a scale from 0, representing the worst possible life, to 10, representing the best. With a GDP per capita of nearly $12,000, the country ranks 73rd globally.
Libya follows Mauritius as the second happiest African nation, positioned 81st worldwide, while Algeria ranks third in Africa (83rd globally). Mozambique (93rd), Gabon (96th), Côte d’Ivoire (98th), Cameroon (100th), South Africa (101st), Niger (103rd), and Tunisia (105th) round out the top ten African countries in happiness rankings.
At the global level, Finland continues its nine-year streak at the top, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, and Sweden.
The annual report bases its rankings largely on subjective evaluations collected through the Gallup World Poll. Respondents are asked to rate their overall life satisfaction and report positive and negative emotions. Six variables shape these responses: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
“Each person surveyed provides a numerical response on this scale, called the Cantril ladder. On average, around 1,000 responses are collected each year for each country. Weighting is used to construct national averages representative of the population,” the report states.
The 2026 edition of the report also highlights, for the first time, the impact of intensive social media use on youth well-being worldwide. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor of economics at the University of Oxford and one of the report’s authors, explains that the relationship is “complex,” depending on time spent on platforms, platform type, usage patterns, and demographic factors such as gender and socio-economic status.
“Intensive use is associated with significantly lower well-being, but those who deliberately stay away from social media also seem to miss out on some positive effects,” he said.
Mauritius’s top African ranking reflects a combination of economic prosperity, social support, and perceived freedoms. The country has invested heavily in healthcare, education, and public services, which experts say contributes to overall life satisfaction.
In contrast, Sierra Leone, ranked last in Africa, faces ongoing challenges including poverty, weak healthcare systems, and low GDP per capita. The report underscores that countries with limited social support, lower income levels, and perceived corruption consistently score lower in life satisfaction surveys.
Analysts say that while happiness rankings provide insight into subjective well-being, they also highlight structural issues requiring policy intervention, including education, governance, and public health improvements.
The World Happiness Report remains a key reference for governments and international organisations aiming to improve citizens’ well-being. Its findings serve not only as a benchmark but also as a guide to shaping policies that balance economic growth with social and mental health priorities.
