LONDON: Saudi Arabia has jumped up the rankings of the world's happiest countries, according to a new UN report.
The Kingdom is now 28th out of the 156 countries included in the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network's 2019 World Happiness Report, which was published on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia climbed five places compared to 2018 and is now the third happiest country in the Middle East and Africa, with just Israel and the UAE in front.
Finland topped the rankings for the second year in a row, with other Nordic countries taking the leading spots along with the Netherlands and Switzerland. The United States was ranked in 19th place.
South Sudan came last with Yemen and Syria the Arab countries making up the bottom 10.
The list ranks countries according to things such as GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, social freedom, generosity and absence of corruption.
*With Reuters
The top countries:
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Norway
4. Iceland
5. Netherlands
6. Switzerland
7. Sweden
8. New Zealand
9. Canada
10. Austria
...
21. UAE
...
28. Saudi Arabia
Bottom countries
147. Haiti
148. Botswana
149. Syria
150. Malawi
151. Yemen
152. Rwanda
153. Tanzania
154. Afghanistan
155. Central African Republic
156. South Sudan