Source: Gallup.com
Bulgaria and Yemen lead the world in suffering
by Elizabeth MendesWASHINGTON, D.C. -- An average of 13% of adults worldwide rated their lives poorly enough to be considered "suffering," according to Gallup surveys in 146 countries in 2011. The percentage rating their current and future lives poorly enough to be considered suffering was as high as 45% in Bulgaria and as low as 1% or less in the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Thailand, and Brazil.
Gallup classifies respondents as "thriving," "struggling," or "suffering" according to how they rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale with steps numbered from 0 to 10 based on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale. Gallup considers people to be suffering if they rate their current lives a 4 or lower and their lives in five years a 4 or lower. The respondents do not label themselves as suffering. Average global suffering has remained relatively unchanged over the past several years.
One in four or more residents in 18 countries rated their lives poorly enough to be classified as suffering. Bulgaria had the negative distinction of leading the global suffering list, as it did last year. Yemen, Armenia, and El Salvador followed closely behind, with one in three or more residents suffering in each of these countries.
Suffering spiked in places such as Iran, Afghanistan, and El Salvador last year -- earning them a spot near the top of the world's most suffering list.
Suffering was 3% or less in 24 countries -- most of them wealthier and more developed countries. Three percent of Americans were suffering in 2011, as has been the case in past years.
