After experiencing a setback in 2023, Côte d'Ivoire has once again become the happiest country in West Africa, surpassing Guinea, Senegal, Nigeria, and Niger, according to the 2024 rankings in the World Happiness Report

Côte d'Ivoire has reclaimed its title as the happiest country in West Africa, according to the latest data from the 2024 World Happiness Report. This comprehensive annual survey assesses the well-being of populations across different nations, taking into account various economic, social, and health factors.

The report assigned Côte d'Ivoire a happiness score of 5.08 out of 10, placing it at the 96th position globally. While this represents a slight decline from its peak in 2022, it marks a significant improvement compared with 2023. The surge in happiness levels can be primarily attributed to improvements in GDP per capita, enhanced freedom, increased social support, and improvements in life expectancy.

This recovery in happiness scores mirrors Côte d'Ivoire's recent economic revival. Despite facing challenges such as the global COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire has managed to maintain robust economic growth. Since overcoming the turmoil following the 2011 electoral crisis, the country has seen a dynamic and flourishing economic environment. According to the Legatum Institute, Côte d'Ivoire stands as the nation with the most significant rise in prosperity globally in the decade from 2011 to 2021.

Economic statistics from the International Monetary Fund further confirm the positive momentum, with the country's growth rate increasing from 4.2% in 2022 to 4.5% in 2023, with a projection of reaching 5% in the current year. This growth has been reflected in the rise of per capita GDP. However, the equitable distribution of this newly created wealth poses an ongoing challenge. Despite this, the Ivorian government continues to implement significant reforms aimed at reducing poverty levels.

The methodology of the World Happiness Report involves a detailed evaluation of subjective well-being, which includes life evaluations, positive emotions, and negative emotions, commonly referred to as positive and negative affects. This assessment largely relies on the personal evaluations made by individuals regarding their own lives, as captured through Gallup's global surveys. Participants are asked to rate their overall satisfaction with life on a scale where the highest possible score is 10 and the lowest is 0. These ratings are influenced by a range of factors, including economic standing, social networks, health, personal freedom, generosity among citizens, and levels of corruption.

In the previous year's rankings, Côte d'Ivoire was outperformed by Guinea. However, in this year's assessment, Guinea has slipped to the second spot within the region and now ranks 97th worldwide.

The report also sheds light on the broader African context, listing the top five happiest countries on the continent as Libya, Mauritius, South Africa, Algeria, and the Republic of Congo, respectively.