A new study has ranked Rwanda among the best places to live, emerging top in Africa and 15th globally. 

Paraguay ranked highest worldwide in the survey conducted by an American research firm, Gallup.

Rwanda tied with the US and Bhutan, all recording an index score of 79, eight higher than the global mean of 71.

In the region, Kenya emerged 33 with 77 index score (second in Africa), Tanzania 57th with 72, Uganda 90th with 64, while Burundi is in 100th position with 63 index score.

In Africa, third best is Mauritius in the 36the place globally with 76 index score, tying with Nigeria. South Africa follows at 43rd with 75 index score, Namibia and Senegal tied at 50th with 74, while Mali is at 55th with 73 index score.

Paraguay, Colombia and Ecuador scored the highest, while 10 Latin American countries top the list for the first time in 10 years.

The top 10 happiest countries in the world to live in are in Latin America, according to the survey.

Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Venezuela are in fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, according to the survey.

The 10 least happiest countries, according to the survey, are Afghanistan, Nepal, Lithuania, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Serbia, Bangladesh, Tunisia and Sudan, which scored the least (47).

The survey polled adults in 143 countries and asked them a series of questions about the previous day, including: ‘Did you feel well-rested?’ ‘Did you feel respected all day?’ ‘Did you smile or laugh a lot?’ ‘Did you learn something or do something interesting?’ and ‘Did you feel enjoyment?’

More than 70 per cent of people throughout the world said they experienced enjoyment, respect, rest, and smiles the day before.

Respondents were also asked about their experience of positive and negative emotions.
Paraguay also claimed the top spot last year.

Gallup said for the first time in 10 years, the top 10 happiest countries to live in are all from Latin American, based on its Positive Experience Index.

The poll has a margin of error of one per cent, Gallup said.

Gallup officials said there is much to be learned from Latin America because while they aren’t the wealthiest people in the world, they are certainly among the happiest.

The scores are on a 0 to 100 scale. Paraguay scored 89 and Venezuela 82. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua came in eighth, ninth and tenth place with 81.

THE WORLD'S HAPPIEST COUNTRIES RANKED

1. Paraguay 89
2. Colombia 84
2. Ecuador 84
2. Guatemala 84
5. Honduras 82
5. Panama 82
5. Venezuela 82
8. Costa Rica 81
8. El Salvador 81
8. Nicaragua 81
11. Philippines 80
11. Singapore 80
11. Switzerland 80
11. Uruguay 80
15. Argentina 79
15. Bhutan 79
15. Canada 79
15. Chile 79
15. Dominican Republic 79
15. Netherlands 79
15. New Zealand 79
15. Norway 79
15. Rwanda 79
15. Sweden 79
15. USA 79
26. Denmark 78
26. Finland 78
26. Indonesia 78
26. Luxembourg 78
36. Puerto Rico 78
26. Taiwan 78
26. Uzbekistan 78
33. Bolivia 77
33. Germany 77
33. Kenya 77
36. Belgium 76
36. France 76
36. Ireland 76
36. Mauritius 76
36. Mexico 76
36. Nigeria 76
36. Sri Lanka 76
43. Australia 75
43. Austria 75
43. China 75
43. Peru 75
43. South Africa 75
43. Thailand 75
43. United Kingdom 75
50. Brazil 74
50. Mauritania 74
50. Namibia 74
50. Senegal 74
50. Spain 74
55. Belize 73
55. Mali 73
57. Portugal 72
57. Saudi Arabia 72
57. Tanzania 72
60. Malaysia 71
60. Vietnam 71
62. Ghana 70
62. India 70
62. Italy 70
62. Jamaica 70
62. Poland 70
67. Cambodia 69
67. Malawi 69
67. Malta 69
67. Sierra Leone 69
71. Guinea 68
71. Myanmar 68
71. Slovenia 68
71. Zimbabwe 68
75. Botswana 67
75. Cyprus 67
75. Greece 67
75. Hong Kong 67
75. Jordan 67
75. Kyrgyzstan 67
75. Madagascar 67
75. Zambia 67
83. Japan 66
83. Niger 66
85. Ivory Coast 65
85. Kazakhstan 65
85. Russia 65
85. Slovakia 65
85. Turkmenistan 65
90. Algeria 64
90. Angola 64
90. Burkina Faso 64
90. Cameroon 64
90. Estonia 64
90. Latvia 64
90. Macedonia 64
90. Northern Cyprus 64
90. Tajikistan 64
90. Uganda 64
100. Albania 63
100. Burundi 63
102. Czech Republic 62
102. Lebanon 62
104. Chad 61
104. Haiti 61
104. Hungary 61
104. Iran 61
104. Israel 61
104. Mongolia 61
110. Benin 60
110. Bulgaria 60
110. Congo (Brazzaville) 60
110. Ethiopia 60
110. Iraq 60
110. Montenegro 60
110. Romania 60
110. Yemen 60
118. Armenia 59
118. Gabon 59
118. Palestinian Territories 59
118. South Korea 59
122. Belarus 58
122. Egypt 58
122. Kosovo 58
122. Togo 58
126. Congo (Kinshasa) 57
126. Croatia 57
126. Liberia 57
126. Pakistan 57
130. Azerbaijan 56
130. Moldova 56
130. South Sudan 56
130. Ukraine 56
134. Afghanistan 55
134. Bosnia & Herzegovina 55
134. Georgia 55
134. Lithuania 55
134. Nepal 55
139. Bangladesh 54
139. Serbia 54
139. Turkey 54
142. Tunisia 52
143. Sudan 47

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