7 World's Most Stressed Countries: 2025 Ranking Revealed

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The world is so unique in countless ways. While Finland and Denmark are renowned for the high satisfaction their people have with their quality of life, a stark contrast exists with the most stressed countries, where people face ongoing challenges and difficulties.

Whether it's economic hardship, ongoing conflict, or other critical factors, these nations are far from the ideal dream of quality of life.

List of the Most Stressed Countries

According to CEOWORLD Magazine, Burundi stands out as one of the most stressed countries in the world. Sharing this unfortunate reputation, the complete list is as follows:

1. Burundi - Total Stress Score: 26.31

Burundi is named as the world’s most stressed country. Historically, the nation has been marred by civil wars, violence, and political instability, all of which continue to affect its current condition.

As quoted by Pulse Nigeria, the East African country has a GDP per capita of approximately $240. Political instability remains a significant factor contributing to its ongoing struggles. The combination of financial instability and high unemployment goes hand-in-hand, serving as a major source of stress for many of its people.

2. South Sudan - Total Stress Level: 26.78

Another East African nation, South Sudan, faces immense suffering. Since gaining its independence in 2011, the country has been plagued by ongoing conflicts, violence, and displacement.

South Sudanese people are unable to escape severe natural disasters, crisis-level hunger, and widespread mental health issues in their daily lives. Each new concern seems to worsen the country’s already fragile situation.

3. Afghanistan - Total Stress Score: 27.49

Afghanistan is often cited as one of the most stressed countries in the world due to its prolonged history of conflict, political instability, and economic challenges. Over the past few decades, Afghanistan has faced a series of intense struggles, including foreign invasions, civil wars, and the rise of extremist groups. 

These crises have severely affected the well-being of its citizens, such as high levels of displacement and poverty. But, the very poor restrictions on women’s rights are also becoming a major issue faced by Afghanistan, as noted by Ani News and DW.

4. Syria - Total Stress Score: 27.69

Due to the brutal civil war that has raged since 2011, over 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes. The country finds itself in a murky situation, with the involvement of multiple factions, including terrorist groups and foreign military interventions, complicating and prolonging the crisis.

Though the Assad regime has recently fallen, Syria remains volatile, grappling with a financial crisis and ongoing violence, which continue to be among the struggles Syrians face today, according to ShelterBox.

5. Malawi - Total Stress Score: 28.28

Known as one of the poorest countries in the world, many Malawians live in extreme poverty. Even the most basic needs, such as clean drinking water and sanitation, remain out of reach for much of the population. While Malawi continues its efforts to rise above the poverty line, its landlocked position, heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture, and unsupportive government regulations make such progress difficult to achieve.

6. Yemen - Total Stress Score: 28.82

Located on the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has endured nearly a decade of intractable civil war between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels. With an already vulnerable situation before the war, the prolonged conflict has only exacerbated it, causing millions to flee their homes, a severe economic decline, and solidifying Yemen's reputation as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

7. Central African Republic - Total Stress Score: 29.19

The Central African Republic is heavily burdened by crises affecting population displacement, violence, and natural disasters. Since the conflicts that began around 2012 and 2013, the situation has only worsened, further destabilizing a country already plagued by a history of struggle. 

Despite international efforts to provide aid and support peacebuilding initiatives, the Central African Republic remains one of the world’s most stressed countries.

These countries serve as living evidence of how vastly different nations' fates can be, with economic struggles and violence deeply impacting the well-being of their people. While it may seem grim, this list contrasts with the happiest countries in the world.

Editor's Choice: Why Are Nordic Countries Always on the List of Happiest Countries?

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