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Zimbabwe Ranks 15th, South Africa 7th on Hanke's 2025 Misery Index
Zimbabwe placed 15th and South Africa seventh on economist Steve Hanke's 2025 Annual Misery Index, marking the first time Zimbabwe has ranked better than its neighbor. Venezuela, Sudan and Turkey occupy the three worst positions. Hanke attributed South Africa's decline to high unemployment and linked it to ongoing xenophobic attacks.
May 7, 7:10 AM·1m read1 source
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Zimbabwe has for the first time ranked better than South Africa on economist Steve Hanke's Annual Misery Index. Hanke placed Zimbabwe 15th on the 2025 list of the world's unhappiest countries while South Africa sits in seventh place. This marks the first time Zimbabwe has outranked South Africa and the first time South Africa has ranked worse than Zimbabwe.
AllAfrica reported that in Hanke's 2025 Annual Misery Index, Zimbabwe ranks as the fifteenth most miserable country in the world. Only 14 countries are more miserable than Zimbabwe. Venezuela, Sudan and Turkey are ranked the three worst countries on the index in that order.
Steve Hanke attributed South Africa's ranking to a high unemployment rate that has left millions struggling and initiated ongoing xenophobic attacks. Hanke described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as arrogant, incompetent and corrupt.
The country was ranked the world's most miserable country on the index in 2023.
It has been a constant feature on the list due to economic volatility. The article was published on 7 May 2026. The source publication is New Zimbabwe. The report was distributed by AllAfrica Global Media.
