KABUL (AP) — Afghanistan is the most unhappy country in the world — even since before the Taliban returned to power in August. This is assured by the so-called Happiness in the World report, published in view of the UN International Day of Happiness, which is celebrated on Sunday.
The annual report has Afghanistan last among 149 countries surveyed, with a rate of only 2.5. Lebanon was the second most unhappy, and Botswana, Rwanda and Zimbabwe complete the last five. Finland came first for the fourth consecutive year, with a rate of 7.8, followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and the Netherlands.
Researchers ranked countries after analyzing data from the last three years. They examined several categories — per capita gross domestic product, social safety nets, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity of the population and perceptions of levels of external and internal corruption.
Afghanistan was wrong in all six categories, a frustrating result since it began before the arrival of the Taliban and despite 20 years of US and international investment. The United States has invested $145 billion in development in Afghanistan since 2002, according to reports from the US special inspector general for the country.
Even so, there were signs of growing hopelessness.
A Gallup poll in 2018 concluded that few Afghans had much hope for the future. In fact, most said they had no hope for the future. Years of rampant corruption, growing poverty, lack of jobs, rising people below the poverty line and erratic development combined to create overwhelming unrest, said analyst Nasratullah Haqpal. Many Afghans had high hopes in 2011, when the Taliban was overthrown and the US-led coalition declared victory.
The report warns that Afghanistan's numbers could fall further next year when the level of happiness in the country is measured following the return of the Taliban to power.
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