You're reading: Ukraine climbs 10 points in happiness ranking

Ukraine is slightly happier than it was last year but remains one of the world’s least happy countries.

According to the World Happiness Report 2020, Ukraine ranked 123rd out of 156 countries, climbing up 10 ranks compared to last year. Ukraine last held the 123rd spot in 2016.

The annual study evaluates national life satisfaction by measuring six key variables including per capita GDP, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.

The scores are based on individuals’ assessments of their lives. Respondents are asked to rank their life experiences on a scale from 0 to 10.

Ukrainian citizens rate their life satisfaction at 4.561 points, falling behind Mozambique, Kenya and Namibia and but outranking Liberia, Palestine and Uganda.

The Report uses a hypothetical country called Dystopia to compare how each factor weighs on the overall results.

In Ukraine, the support of friends and relatives contributes most to the country’s happiness, while corruption makes people less fulfilled. According to the survey, Ukrainians are also dissatisfied with their freedom to make life choices compared to top happiest countries.

The World Happiness Report lists Ukraine among the 20 biggest losers, showing a 0.45 points decline in the level of happiness in the period between 2008-2012 and 2017-2019.

The research indicates that countries with the largest declines in average life evaluations typically suffered some combination of economic, political, and social stress.

For the second consecutive year, the happiness ranking is spearheaded by Finland which scored 7.8 points. Top scoring countries also include Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands.

Satisfaction in Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Afghanistan remains at rock bottom.

Ukraine’s happiness ranking has been sinking steadily since 2013, the year before the EuroMaidan Revolution that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych, when the country ranked 87th. In 2019 the country ranked 133rd.

In general, Ukraine’s happiness scores mirror its corruption index – closer to the bottom than to the top.

According to a Transparency International survey in 2020, Ukraine ranked 126th out of 180 countries by level of perceived corruption. The county fell by two points compared to the previous year.