Mental Health Around the World: Where 24 Countries Stand

Today, you can hardly discuss anything without mental health coming up. It’s a sign of how stressed out, emotionally volatile, and psychologically fragile the typical person feels.

57.8 million Americans reported having a mental illness in 2021, which means more than one in five of your countrymen battle demons regularly.

Perhaps you have experienced psychological or emotional challenges or have a loved one who suffers from mental illness. To better understand what causes (and alleviates) mental health issues, we must consider in which countries those issues are most rampant and most absent.

Researchers use the Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) metric to rank nations. Rather than gauging a person’s average happiness, MHQ measures one’s ability to remain mentally well despite many challenges. In ranking the following countries, researchers measured respondents’ mood and outlook, drive and motivation, self-perception, adaptability and resilience, cognitive abilities, and mind-body connection.

1. Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has long been a highly affordable, sun-soaked tourist destination for Westerners traveling on a budget. The draw is obvious—sun, low cost of living (and traveling), bountiful beaches, and bottomless Mamajuanas (Google this delicious cocktail) top the list.

However, Dominicans’ day-to-day lives are anything but easy. About 23% of Dominicans live in poverty, even if its economic growth provides reason for hope. Plus, the nation next door has social media worried about marauding cannibals, which has to be at least a bit concerning. Yet, Dominicans are loving life if you trust the MHQ’s methodology.

2. Sri Lanka

An island nation resting off India’s southern coast, Sri Lanka is mired in an economic crisis. Power and fuel shortages, widespread protests, and rampant inflation make life uneasy in Sri Lanka. Yet, we find Sri Lanka second in terms of MHQ rankings. What gives?

We must assume that the frolicking elephants, surfable waves, palm trees, and stunning waterfalls keep Sri Lankans sedated despite the chaos in their nation. Living on an island makes life’s ills (and economic crashes) more tolerable.

3. Tanzania

Tanzanians rate highly across all measured categories, from Outlook to Cognition and Resilience. Though President Samia Suluhu Hassan has a knack for arresting political opponents and engaging in other morally questionable acts, this Southeastern African nation has more going for it than most other nations in the region.

Positioned on the Indian Ocean, Tanzania has some stunningly beautiful beaches drenched in turquoise waters. Though many Tanzanians are poor, the nation’s GDP has seen a steady uptick, thanks in part to private investment. Tropical forests and abundant wildlife make Tanzania a popular tourist destination which contribute to the local quality of life.

4. Panama

Panama is a popular destination for ex-pats, who gravitate to its modern amenities and infrastructure. Panama City is considered the only “First-World city” in Central America, while well-maintained roadways allow for easy travel throughout the nation.

Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Panama offers a long scenic coastline, beaches, and waterside cabanas. Panamanians are famously friendly, and the country’s role in international trade lends a level of financial stability that doesn’t exist in many other nations in Latin America. Panama arguably makes the most sense of all the nations with high quality-of-life scores.

5. Malaysia

Malaysia is another country that seems out of place on this list. A government-led crackdown on free speech and the democratic process has the hallmarks of a repressive dictatorship. Though Malaysia was once cited as a model of tolerant Islam compatible with democracy, that no longer appears true.

Yet, Malaysia reports high levels of Adaptability, resilience, drive, and Motivation. Though it may be something of an outlier, we can conclude that Malaysians feel they still have some degree of autonomy despite an increasingly restrictive government. Perhaps many Malaysians do not view a theocratic restriction of rights as a particularly alarming development.

6. Nigeria

Nigeria’s ranking on this list is bolstered primarily by high scores in Adaptability, Resilience, Drive, and Motivation. The nation has its share of problems, including relatively low income, hunger, and disease. Nigerians’ life expectancy at birth hovers around 62 years, though that figure has risen significantly.

It would be easy to assume the average Nigerian’s outlook is dim. Comprised of 36 autonomous states fragmented by ethnic and cultural differences, it would be easy to assume the average Nigerian’s outlook is dim. However, Nigerians feel they can overcome, and data indicates that they thrive when they make it to nations with greater economic and social opportunity. Nigerian immigrants and their children are more likely to earn undergraduate and advanced degrees than the U.S. population.

7. Venezuela

Venezuela is one of the last countries you’d expect to make this list. A nation gripped by dictatorial rule for decades, Venezuela has a staggering 50% poverty rate despite having vast reserves of oil. While millions of Venezuelans have fled the failed state, those that remain report high rates of Adaptability and Resilience.

Living in Venezuela is an actual test of will. Perhaps enduring years of struggle has made Venezuelans feel like survivors, and they are. There are other ways to explain how Venezuelans rate so highly in these rankings. A strong sense of community and family bonds is essential during a leadership crisis, and such strong bonds are undoubtedly abundant in Venezuela.

8. El Salvador

El Salvadorian president Nayib Bukele has garnered well-deserved attention for reversing an epidemic of lawlessness in the small Central American nation. While some still refer to Bukele as a dictator, a landslide electoral victory and an astounding 70% decline in homicides in 2023 are difficult to argue with.

Based on these rankings, El Salvadorians feel immensely hopeful and increasingly secure. Life expectancy in the nation again rose after declining between 2010 and 2015. Poverty and inequality are also declining as the nation’s economy grows rapidly, which is more than many Western nations can claim. Indeed, there are plenty of reasons why El Salvadorians are outpacing most of the world in psychological and emotional health.

9. Costa Rica

You’ll hear the phrase “pura vida” regularly as you travel throughout Costa Rica, and residents seem to be living the pure life. Costa Ricans may not have a ton (despite the “rich coast” monicker), but they’re unfailingly happy, polite, and hospitable.

Costa Ricans rate particularly high in Adaptability and Resilience. The nation has a history of independence (and borderline isolationism) allowed by robust coffee production that allowed Costa Ricans to be self-sufficient. That spirit of independence and self-sufficiency is still alive and well today.

10. Uruguay

Politically, economically, and socially stable nations in Latin America are difficult to come by. Uruguay is an outlier in this respect. An “egalitarian society” where the average citizen is economically secure, Uruguay has seen long-term economic growth without sacrificing an easy-going quality of life.

Uruguay’s long Atlantic coastline means beach time is mandatory. Looking at neighbors with far greater societal divisions, economic struggles, and political conflicts, Uruguayans can’t help but be grateful.

11. Italy

How could you be stressed gazing at the wonder of St. Peter’s Basilica or floating in the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia? Depressed? A bowl of fresh Spaghetti alla Puttanesca will clear that right up. In all seriousness, Italians report high Resilience, Drive, Motivation, and Cognition levels. Perhaps 40 years without mental hospitals has led Italians to find solutions independently — being in Italy is a good start.

If you’ve been suffering in a nation not named Italy, you’re in luck. The Italian government is offering homes in this laid-back nation for one Euro. If you’re not opposed to a fixer-upper, you can secure an Italian getaway for a steal.

12. Puerto Rico

As wealthy Americans have flocked to Puerto Rico for the tax benefits, many have realized that the island comes with added mental health benefits. Puerto Ricans rate particularly well in terms of Adaptability and Resilience. This makes sense, considering that the island’s residents are overwhelmingly happy despite high unemployment, relatively high crime, and a poor educational system.

Strong family ties, warm weather, and a relentless commitment to celebration help explain Puerto Ricans’ joie de vivres.

13. Kyrgyzstan

One of the many Central Asian nations that the typical Westerner knows little about Kyrgyzstan is populated primarily by a Muslim Turkic population called Kyrgyz. The nation was involved in an intense border conflict with Tajikistan in September 2022, a battle indicative of years of restlessness in the region.

The nation’s leaders have also shown a penchant for oppression. Coupled with widespread economic insecurity, Kyrgyz face daily struggles that affect their well-being.

14. India

While India’s economy has grown faster than Josh Baskin in Big, the quality of life has not kept pace with GDP. Child labor violations, rampant pollution, a lack of modern plumbing and sanitation, and millions of Indians suffering chronic hunger are among the many ills that ail the nation.

These harsh realities contribute to India’s struggles with self-esteem and feeling hopeful about their futures.

15. Yemen

Though trench warfare is commonly associated with World War I, Yemen finds itself embroiled in the sort of violent stalemate that soldiers in Ypres and Verdun endured. Caught between Saudi Arabian and Iranian interests and suffering from long-lasting internal division, Yemenis have not known peace in quite some time.

A small nation on the Arabian Peninsula that experiences perpetual shellshock, it’s no surprise that Yemenis have among the worst mental health in the world. One figure from 2022 states that one in four Yemenis suffer from a mental health condition, and we suspect that the figure is even greater.

16. Iraq

Who is to say where Iraq might rank on this list had the nation not endured nearly a decade of conflict between 2003 and 2011? The nation has never been the same, and perhaps never will be. Considering prior wars, the nation has seen almost nothing but conflict throughout the past half-century,

Those in Iraq suffer symptoms associated with exposure to long-term conflict, including addiction, depression, low self-esteem, general insecurity, and self-harm. The World Health Organization’s efforts to improve mental health services in Iraq feel like covering a festering wound with a Band-Aid.

17. Ireland

Irish artists, including James Joyce, have never been strangers to melancholy. Many Irish developed anxiety and depression during The Troubles, a tumultuous period of religious and ethnic strife that, in some minds, continues today. The weather alone in Ireland can be enough to cause the blues, but Ireland’s dreadful mental health ranking suggests a level of despair that grey clouds alone can’t explain.

One study found that over 40% of Irish adults have a mental health condition, while one in ten have attempted to take their own life. When you infuse the woes of modern technology with Ireland’s centuries-long woes, the result is bleak.

18. Egypt

Egypt has one of the top three economies in Africa, and its tourism sector is robust compared with most African nations. Egyptians see visitors come and go, presumably making them keenly aware of the quality of life in other nations. At the same time, social media has proven a force for unrest in Egypt, and one must wonder whether social media has had the same insidious effects on Westerners’ mental health.

Egypt is an unsteady nation straddling the line between Third-World instability and First-World headaches. This combination is not conducive to psychological well-being, and Egyptians reported a low Mood and Outlook score of 54 (the leading country in this category had a score of 91.)

19. Australia

Researchers found a negative correlation between a country’s per-capita GDP and mental well-being score. With a few exceptions, the wealthier a nation was, the lower its MHQ tended to be.

This leads us to nations like Australia, where residents have the modern amenities so many associate with happiness. Is it possible that internet connectivity, streaming services, social media, and other first-world “luxuries” are single-handedly draining our mental health? Australia has great natural beauty, a strong economy, and kangaroos.

What else would we blame for Aussies’ lagging mood and outlook if not technology-assisted dissatisfaction?

20. Tajikistan

Many people can live in poverty and be mentally stable, as evidenced by several nations towards the top of this list. Few people can endure financial destitution, geographic isolation, Islamic extremism, and civil war without slipping into hopelessness. Insecurity is the perpetual reality for Tajiks, whose day-to-day experience makes the average American’s life resemble an episode of The Jetsons.

Tajikistan proves that one’s environment often limits one’s well-being. While humans are resilient, there is only so much insecurity and conflict they can endure before suffering dire psychological consequences.

21. Brazil

The outsider may look at postcard views of Ipanema Beach and assume the average Brazilian lives a life of surfing, tanning, and sipping Caipirinhas. Despite the Brazilian mirage pushed by popular culture, the nation’s people are struggling. Even when the nation hosted a World Cup, Brazilians were unhappy with economic stagnation, political corruption, outdated public transport, and other legitimate gripes.

As the largest nation in South America with a wealth of resources, Brazilians may be frustrated about their nation’s (and, by extension, their own) untapped potential. It’s one thing to have no talent and accept it. It’s far more tormenting to have talent and see it wasted.

22. South Africa

South Africa’s history is one of ups and downs. When a nation has had periods of extreme hopefulness, as South Africa did under former President Nelson Mandela, the nation’s lows can feel all the more gutting. Currently, South Africans face frequent power shortages that make every aspect of life unpredictable. Crime and corruption are at the root of the problem, and many South Africans wouldn’t use “safe” to describe their lives.

South Africa is experiencing a growing sense of hopelessness, as evidenced by a Mood and Outlook score lower than that of any other nation except Uzbekistan.

23. United Kingdom

Western nations are seeing increasing dissatisfaction among younger generations, as researchers confirmed. Over time, we may expect nations like the United Kingdom to display increasing mental health deficits.

Some blame rising suicide rates in the U.K. on ineffective approaches to healthcare, but could the problem be more profound? With all the conveniences and material goods we could ever want in the West, has the lack of struggle stripped us of purpose? You have to wonder.

24. Uzbekistan

Squished in the “stan” region of the map, Uzbekistan resides in a historically contentious region between Russia and China. Landlocked and virtually unthought of among the Western population, Uzbekistan’s population (of which one-third are 17 years or younger) reports struggling to perform cognitive tasks, having a limited understanding of their mind-body connection, and having limited drive.

Uzbeks ranked lowest of every other surveyed country in terms of Mood, outlook, and Social Self, which is similar to self-esteem. While Uzbeks are known as welcoming hosts, they struggle to extend such grace to themselves.