Liberia has emerged as one of the world’s top 10 countries for emotional well-being in the latest released State of the World’s Emotional Health 2025 report-a surprising and encouraging development for a nation long defined by its efforts to overcome conflict and economic fragility.
The report, produced by Gallup in partnership with the World Health Summit, draws on more than 145,000 interviews across 144 countries.
It is the first global study to map the relationship between emotional well-being, peace, and public health.
The findings place Liberia among a select group of nations where positive daily experiences significantly outweigh negative ones.
A Standout in a World on Edge
Globally, the report paints a picture of rising emotional strain:
39% of adults said they worried the previous day.
37% reported stress.
Physical pain (32%), sadness (26%) and anger (22%) all remain higher than a decade ago.
But Liberia’s results stand in sharp contrast.
While the full country-by-country data is available on Gallup’s interactive platform, analysts note that Liberia ranked in the global top tier for positive experiences such as laughter, enjoyment, rest, and feeling respected- indicators that have remained more stable worldwide than negative emotions.
“These numbers reflect something important happening in Liberia,” said a Gallup researcher involved in the analysis. “At a time when much of the world is struggling emotionally, Liberians report strong daily positivity, resilience and social connection.”
Why Liberia Stands Out
The report does not point to a single cause but highlights several patterns likely contributing to Liberia’s strong performance:
1. Strong social respect and community ties
Globally, 88% of adults said they felt treated with respect- one of the highest levels Gallup has recorded.
Liberia scored even higher, placing it among the top countries where interpersonal respect and community cohesion remain strong.
2. High rates of daily enjoyment and laughter
While global averages for laughter and enjoyment remain at 73%, Liberia exceeded these levels, boosting its top-10 ranking. Researchers note that in post-conflict societies, humor and community bonds often play an important role in buffering emotional strain.
3. Emotional stability amid global turbulence
As the world remains “on an emotional edge,” Liberia’s steadiness in positive emotions sets it apart from the global rise in stress, worry, and anger recorded over the past decade.
A Contrast to Global Peace Trends
Liberia’s emotional resilience emerges at a time when global peace indicators have sharply deteriorated.
The Institute for Economics & Peace reports that riots, strikes and antigovernment demonstrations increased 244% between 2011 and 2019 -even before the pandemic.
Emotional distress has risen alongside conflict, creating what the report calls a “mutually reinforcing cycle” between instability and negative emotions.
Yet Liberia, a country whose recent history has been shaped by conflict, now finds itself among those with comparatively high emotional wellbeing.
This suggests that emotional health depends on more than economic growth or political metrics.
“Emotional health is not simply about wealth,” the report notes. “It is about how people feel treated, how they connect with others, and how secure they feel in daily life.”
Positive Emotions Prove Remarkably Resilient
The report emphasizes that positive emotions, including respect, enjoyment, and rest and learning something interesting, are more resistant to global instability than negative ones.
Liberia’s top-10 ranking reinforces this point. While much of the world contends with chronic worry and stress, many Liberians continue to report meaningful daily experiences that build emotional resilience.
“These emotional resources are foundational for wellbeing,” the report states.
“They help individuals and communities cope, recover and thrive.”
Women, Youth and Older Adults: How Liberia Fits Global Trends
Worldwide, the report found that:
Women experience more sadness, stress and physical pain.
Younger adults feel more anger.
Midlife adults report the highest stress.
Older adults experience more sadness and worry.
Liberia mirrors some of these global patterns but still maintains an overall emotional balance more positive than most countries surveyed.
Men and women in Liberia report similar levels of enjoyment and learning, while Liberian youth score well above the global average for daily laughter- one of the strongest predictors of emotional well-being.
A New Narrative for Liberia
For a nation often defined internationally by its challenges, the report offers a refreshing new narrative: Liberia is one of the world’s emotionally healthiest countries in 2025.
“It’s a reminder that wellbeing is not solely determined by GDP or traditional development indicators,” said a health expert in Monrovia. “It’s about people’s lived emotional realities- and in Liberia; those realities show remarkable optimism and resilience.”
With emotional distress rising across much of the world, Liberia’s top-10 placement stands out, and may offer lessons on how strong social bonds and community cohesion can support a nation’s emotional health even amid adversity.
