How happy are people in Africa?
March 20 is International Day of Happiness. It is celebrated to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. African countries rank poorly in studies of happiness, but does that mean they can't be happy?
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00:00 Are Africans happy? The World Happiness Report is based on a survey done every year that involves asking people to
00:07 value their lives on a scale of 0 to 10. Six indicators measure happiness in a country. The per capita income,
00:15 social support, healthy life expectancy and freedom to make your own life choices.
00:21 Other indicators are the generosity of the general population and
00:26 perceptions of internal and external corruption levels.
00:30 Scandinavian countries top the list while at the bottom are countries like Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone.
00:36 However, measuring happiness has been disputed.
00:40 Some argue that African countries like Togo and Senegal could rank higher based on whether citizens
00:47 experience their lives as meaningful. What do some of the Africans think?
00:52 You need money to be happy. Money always brings happiness.
00:57 Money doesn't circulate. You sell it and don't pay for it. People complain that there's no money.
01:04 I'm happy when I live for other people and they live for me in return.
01:17 We as Zimbabweans are good people. You can check on social media. But sometimes happiness doesn't make any sense if you don't have money.
01:26 Nigerians are just trying to make themselves happy by using what they have at the present moment to take care of their needs and to enjoy every moment.
01:38 I don't think Nigerians are really happy because of the increase in prices of things.
01:45 The International Day of Happiness is based on the belief that happiness is a fundamental human right.
01:51 So, are you happy in your country?
01:55 (upbeat music)
01:57 you