File Photo: Egypt players celebrate after scoring against Chad in a World Cup qualifier game in 2016 on their way to reach the cup for the first time in 7 years. (Reuters)
Egypt rose in the World Happiness Report 2017 to rank 104 out of 155 countries surveyed on their population's happiness, from 120 out of 157 nations in 2016.
Norway became the world’s happiest country, while the Central African Republic became the least happy, according the report published on Monday.
The report, which was first published in 2012 in support of a UN High Level Meeting on happiness and well-being, was published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network at a UN event celebrating International Day of Happiness.
The countries were ranked according to key factors including real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption, and generosity.
“This year the World Happiness Report gives special attention to the social foundations of happiness, including especially happiness in the workplace,” the press release said.
In 2017, the World Happiness Report (WHR) found that happiness is less evident in Africa than in other regions of the world.
The least happy countries included the African and Arab countries of Yemen, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and Burundi. Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Finland followed Norway as the top five countries.
Among Arab countries, Libya ranked 68, Jordan 74 and the occupied Palestinian territories 103 in their happiness levels.
“The report, the fifth one to come out since 2012, continues to gain global recognition as governments, organisations and civil society increasingly use happiness indicators to inform their policy-making decisions,“ the statement read.
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