Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Happiness vs. life satisfaction was 3.98 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia, 2011–2025
Source: Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia stood at 3.98.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia peaked at 4.56 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.86, in 2023.
That places Ethiopia 138th out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4.06 | — |
| 2012 | 4.56 | +12.2% |
| 2014 | 4.51 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 4.51 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 4.46 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 4.35 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.29 | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 4.19 | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 4.28 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 4.24 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 4.09 | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 3.86 | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 3.9 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 3.98 | +2.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3.98 is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.06, 98% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3.98 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.38, 91% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.37 | 4.06 | 4.56 | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.06 | 3.86 | 4.28 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More social development data for Ethiopia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1.01 million (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 164,215 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0075 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia?
- Happiness vs. life satisfaction in Ethiopia was 3.98 in 2025, according to Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.56 in 2012.
- What is the lowest happiness vs. life satisfaction recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.86 in 2023.
- How does Ethiopia rank for happiness vs. life satisfaction?
- Ethiopia ranks 138th out of 157 countries with data for 2025.
- Is happiness vs. life satisfaction rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Wellbeing Research Centre (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Happiness vs. life satisfaction. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average of survey responses. The survey question asks respondents their current position on a hypothetical ladder, where the best possible life for them is a 10, and the worst possible life is a 0.