Malawians are not happy people—UN
The latest World Happiness report released by the United Nations on Wednesday has ranked Malawi 132 out of the 157 countries.
Denmark was ranked the happiest country in the world while Burundi, which experienced civil strife in 2015, was ranked the saddest country in the world.
World Happiness report update 2016 focused on inequality arguing that happiness as measured by life, provides a broader indicator of human welfare than measures of income, poverty, health, education and good governance.
Other theories used to come up with the report include mindfulness, consumerism, and economic freedom, the dignity of work, good governance and social trust.
Chancellor College economic expert, Professor Ben Kalua, said it was not surprising that Malawi was ranked poorly considering the way the country has been performing economically and socially.
“There are a lot of adverse things that are happening in the country like violence against the elderly, burning people who are suspected to be thieves…so you would see that the index has exposed so many-social-economic issues,” said Kalua.
While Psychologist Chiwoza Bandawe said by coming up with such reports the UN used subjective well being which measured the way people were living.
“There are a lot of things; economic and environmental issues and also people’s opportunities for the future but now that Malawi is ranked 132, I think economic challenges are a leading factor to that rank, other countries, like Burundi which is ranked least is probably because of the war and that is putting us ahead of them,” said Bandawe.
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