Lists Of The World’s Most Miserable Countries

According to economist Steve Hanke’s rankings of the world’s most miserable countries, India ranks 103rd, with unemployment as the primary factor. Here are the list of the world’s most miserable countries.

There are 157 countries on the list. Zimbabwe was named the ‘most-miserable’ country in the Hanke 2022 Annual Misery Index in 2022 due to high inflation, unemployment, high lending rates, and GDP growth.

Pakistan is ranked 35th on the list of the world’s most miserable countries.

Switzerland emerged as the least miserable of the 157 countries studied, ranking first (157) on the list. Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Argentina, Yemen, Ukraine, Cuba, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Haiti, Angola, Tonga, and Ghana were named the 15 most miserable countries in the world.

Annual Index Released By Steve Hanke’s

The index created by economist Steve Hanke ranks 157 countries. The list is compiled with several factors in mind, including the sum of year-end unemployment, inflation, and bank lending rates, less the annual percentage change in real GDP per capita.

The top five miserable countries in the Middle East and North Africa released by Steve Hanke are;

1. Syria

Syria was ranked first with a misery index score of 5.4 and the major contribution factor is unemployment.

2. Lebanon

Lebanon had an unemployment rate of 29% comparing to a mind blowing inflation rate of 121.999%. The country had a misery index score of 190.337 with Inflation being the major contributing factor.

3. Sudan

Sudan is among the North African countries. The unemployment rate of Sudan in 2022 was 30.6% comparing to an Inflation rate of 87.3%. Sudan had a misery score of 176.1 with Inflation being the major contributing factor.

4. Yemen

Yemen was ranked fourth among the top 16 most miserable countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Had an unemployment rate of 13.6% comparing to an Inflation rate of 53.2%. Yemen had a misery score of 116.2 with Inflation being the major contributing factor.

5. Turkey

Turkey on the other hand had an unemployment rate of 10.475% comparing to an Inflation rate of 64.34%. The country had a misery score of 101.601 with Inflation being the major contributing factor.

Here are the other ranking released by Steve Hanke;

Pakistan Ranked 35th

Pakistan was ranked 35th due to economic and political challenges. Inflation was the primary factor influencing Pakistan’s ranking in the index.

Cuba Ranked 9th

The ‘disastrous economic policies’ that have left the country in shambles are the primary reason for Cuba’s ranking in the index.

Finland was ranked 109th

Finland, which has been ranked as the world’s happiest country for six years in a row according to the World Happiness Report, ranked 109th on the misery index.

The US on 134th – What does it mean?

According to Steve Hanke, the United States fared relatively well on the misery index. It ranked 134th on the list, making it one of the least miserable countries.

Other countries and their rankings