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The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

World’s unhappiest countries in 2026: Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Lebanon among least happy nations

The latest global happiness rankings paint a difficult picture, especially at the lower end of the list. Countries like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Lebanon appear to be facing deep-rooted challenges that go beyond simple economic concerns. The data, which measures overall life satisfaction along with several social indicators, shows scores dipping below 4 for many nations. Afghanistan, in particular, stands out with an exceptionally low score.

Experts say happiness rankings often reflect lived reality more than policy claims. And here, the reality appears uneven. Some countries show slight resilience and others continue to struggle, with little sign of quick recovery.

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