UK Ranked Second Most Miserable Country in the World, Says Report
The United Kingdom has been ranked as the second most miserable country in the world, according to a new global report by Sapien Labs.
The 2025 Mental State of the World Report, which surveyed over 500,000 respondents across 71 countries, found that the UK scored 49 on the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scale significantly below the global average of about 65.
This places the country just above Uzbekistan, which was ranked as the most miserable nation in the world.
The report highlights widespread mental health struggles among Britons, with about 35 percent of respondents saying they were “distressed or struggling.”
Researchers linked the UK’s low ranking to factors such as economic hardship, social isolation, and a lingering decline in wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts also cited the cost-of-living crisis, rising rent and food prices, and growing political uncertainty as key contributors to worsening public mood. The study found that many wealthy English-speaking nations — including the United States, Canada, and Australia — also ranked poorly, suggesting that economic prosperity alone does not guarantee mental wellbeing.
Lifestyle habits were also identified as possible influences. The report noted that the UK has one of the world’s highest consumption rates of ultra-processed foods, which have been associated with declining mental health.
Sapien Labs’ findings echo warnings from British health professionals about an ongoing mental health crisis, particularly among younger people.
The report concludes that there has been “little sign of recovery” in national wellbeing since the pandemic.
The study has reignited debate over the effectiveness of the UK government’s mental health policies and the need for stronger interventions to address stress, anxiety, and depression among citizens.
Finland, meanwhile, retained its position as one of the happiest countries globally, according to similar international wellbeing indices.
