Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE is the happiest country in the Arab world and the 22nd happiest in the world, according to a new report by Gallup, Oxford University, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The World Happiness Report is a comprehensive look into the wellbeing of the citizens of different nations.
The rankings are based on a Gallup poll of 1,000 residents from each country, which were weighted in proportion to national populations. Polling data from 2021-2023 are averaged out to give the final scores.
In the global ranking, The UAE gained 4 places from 2023, when it was ranked 26th, placing above the United States, Germany, and Mexico, and behind Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania. The rankings were led by Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
The UAE did remarkably well with those 60 years old and above, ranking 11th globally, just behind the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The report found that individual happiness general skewed older in the country, with happiness levels gradually rising with each age group.
The UAE ranked 35th globally for those under the age of 30, behind Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It ranked 25th for those in the lower middle age group (30-45) and 16th for those in the upper middle age class (45 – 60).
The country was amongst the best in the world across all ages, and seemingly surmounted a larger trend of a decline in happiness prevalent in the region.
The report's authors believe that by attempting to categorise and analyse a subjective subject like happiness and well-being, they may be able to help leaders make more informed decisions.
"Effective policymaking relies on solid data, yet there remains a significant lack of it in various parts of the world. Today's World Happiness Report attempts to bridge some of these gaps by offering insights into people's perceptions of life on Earth," Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, said.
"It offers more than just national rankings; it provides analytics and advice for evidence-based planning and policymaking. Our role in research on World Happiness is a natural fit with our longstanding mission: providing leaders with the right information about what people say makes life worthwhile."
