A recent pilot study in Ghana has found that the country's composite Happiness Index averages 4.70 out of a possible 7.00. The study, conducted by researchers Ishmael D. Norman, Eric S. Afli, Saralees Nadarajah, and Emmanuel D. Kpeglo, examined well-being across various dimensions, including psychological, social, economic, environmental, and institutional factors. The study surveyed 833 respondents from rural and urban households across six regions in Ghana between February 1 and March 31, 2024.
The study used the Happiness Alliance 62-item Happiness Index, which assesses 10 areas of well-being, including psychological well-being, healthcare access and quality, time balance, community belonging, social support, education and culture, environmental quality, governance, material well-being, and work satisfaction. The findings suggest that material well-being, governance, community belonging, and work satisfaction were among the strongest contributors to the overall happiness structure. Psychological well-being and access to healthcare also recorded meaningful contributions.
The study found that psychological well-being emerged as the highest-scoring dimension, with a mean of 5.76 out of 7. More than 70% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with statements relating to having a sense of purpose in life and positive interpersonal relationships. Social support also emerged strongly, with more than 85% of respondents saying they felt understood and supported by friends and family. This finding is linked to the continued importance of extended family systems in Ghana.
However, the study also identified areas of concern. Governance recorded the lowest domain mean at 3.45, with respondents expressing concerns about trust in public institutions, accountability, and efforts to combat corruption. Environmental quality also recorded widespread dissatisfaction, with respondents raising concerns about pollution control, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. These issues reflect wider national debates over environmental governance and illegal mining.
The study found differences in reported happiness across regions and demographic groups. The Eastern Region recorded the highest mean happiness score at 4.99, followed closely by Ashanti at 4.97. The Volta Region recorded the lowest mean score at 3.64 among the six regions covered by the study. Men reported a slightly higher mean happiness score than women, at 4.76 compared with 4.63. Married respondents recorded the highest mean score at 4.82, while widowed respondents recorded the lowest at 4.52.
Income was also positively associated with reported happiness. Respondents earning more than GH¢60,000 annually recorded a mean happiness score of 5.57, compared with 4.49 among those earning below GH¢20,000. Larger households also reported higher levels of happiness, with households with six or more members recording a mean score of 5.02. The researchers suggested that extended family structures could provide emotional and material support that contributes to well-being.
The researchers recommend the institutionalization of a multidimensional happiness measurement tool as a complement to conventional economic indicators. They argue that regularly measuring subjective well-being could help policymakers track changes in social, institutional, and environmental conditions over time. The study's findings highlight the importance of effective public institutions, economic stability, and social cohesion alongside material conditions. The researchers caution that future research using nationally representative probability samples and broader regional coverage would be required to validate and extend these findings at the national level.
Key points
- The study's findings suggest that material well-being, governance, community belonging, and work satisfaction are key contributors to overall happiness in Ghana.
- The study highlights concerns over governance and environmental quality, with respondents expressing dissatisfaction with trust in public institutions and environmental conditions.
- The researchers recommend the institutionalization of a multidimensional happiness measurement tool to complement conventional economic indicators.
