Morocco has ranked 48th in the 2023 World Mental State Index, according to a recent report published by the American non-profit organization Sapien Labs.
The index, which focuses on mental health, places Morocco ahead of the United Kingdom (2nd), South Africa (3rd), and Uzbekistan (1st).
In the top spots, the Dominican Republic ranked first as the happiest country in the world for 2023, followed by Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Panama, Malaysia, and Nigeria.
The report revealed that “well-being, economic development, and all that is material are not the basis for achieving good mental health.”
This may explain why Yemen ranks higher than the UK and Australia, and Syria ranks 46th despite the ongoing war.
The report revealed two key factors linked to mental health struggles: early smartphone use and a diet high in processed foods.
These issues are particularly prevalent in wealthy nations, where children typically get smartphones younger and consume more processed food. The report also suggests that weaker family bonds in wealthier countries might play a role.
According to the same ranking, Spain and Algeria are more mentally miserable than Morocco, ranking 50th and 51st respectively, while Germany is at 55th.
The report warned of the continued deterioration of mental health worldwide, which has not improved since the pre-COVID-19 period.
“In 2023, mental wellbeing remained at its post-pandemic low with yet again no sign of movement towards pre-pandemic levels,” the report noted.
This continuous decline in mental health worldwide, according to the report, was “mainly among young people around the world, especially those living in large and wealthy countries.”
On the contrary, there was a positive indicator in most African and South American countries with weak economic growth. The report explains this by saying that “these countries had access to mobile phones later than developed countries.”
The report also points out that only five countries have increased their well-being levels compared to the 2022 ranking, while four others have experienced a noticeable decline.
Morocco and 63 other countries remained relatively unchanged in the ranking of miserable countries since 2021, the post-COVID-19 period.
Moroccans who participated in the survey expressed dissatisfaction with their mood, but confirmed their ability to adapt and be resilient to life.
The ranking is part of the organization’s project called “The Global Mind,” which tracks mental health around the world while trying to identify the causes.
The ranking included only 71 countries worldwide by placing a survey on its website and receiving responses from thousands of people of different nationalities.
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