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🇬🇧 UK: the second most miserable country in the world 🌎
In a shock revelation from the 2024 Global Mind Project, the UK was one point away from taking the crown as the world's most miserable country. Brits seem to be experiencing a greater level of unhappiness than ever, but is that a surprise?
Keep reading to find out who beat us to the top and why we've found ourselves so low on the list of happiness. 👇
Sapien Labs, a not-for-profit neuroscience research organisation, has been conducting its annual Global Mind Project since 2019, consistently highlighting a decline in global mental well-being with "no sign of recovery".
But, is that a surprise? Since the beginning of 2020, we've been hit with a global pandemic, subsequent economic turmoil and multiple wars. It's almost impossible to imagine a world where any nation would be happier now than in 2019.
So, how did the researchers reach their conclusion? Participants from over 70 countries completed a Mental Health Quotient (MHQ), assessing their happiness and resilience across six key areas. Sapien Labs then ranked the nations from the most to the least miserable based on the points they earned.
The UK's average score of 49 placed it near the bottom of the scale, with only one point higher than Uzbekistan, the lowest-ranking country. Ouch.
What's particularly concerning is the high percentage (35%) of Brits reporting to be distressed. The UK actually came last in the ‘percentage of people struggling mentally’ category.
Interestingly, the report consistently shows that wealthier countries tend to score lower in happiness. The happiest places on Earth are found in non-English speaking developing countries like the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.
So, the stereotypes are real - we really are a bunch of grumpy Brits. But, there's much to appreciate about our country, from London's recent accolade as the best city in Europe to Glasgow's reputation as the world's best city for live music.
And if that's not enough, maybe booking a holiday to escape the UK would be a good idea. 😉