North Korea's NHR

North Korea’s NHR

Turkey’s National Happiness Rating (NHR) — or its ranking in the UN World Happiness Report — has consistently been low, especially for a middle-income country with a relatively large economy and rich cultural heritage. While Turkey has modern infrastructure and strong family ties, it ranks well below the global average in self-reported life satisfaction.

Here’s why Turkey’s NHR is relatively poor:

🇹🇷 1. Political Instability and Authoritarianism

Turkey has shifted from a parliamentary democracy to an executive presidency under President Erdoğan.
There’s been:
- Erosion of checks and balances
- Suppression of media freedom
- Mass arrests following the 2016 coup attempt
Many Turks feel politically disempowered, with limited freedom of expression or trust in democratic processes.

📉 Perceived lack of freedom is one of the strongest predictors of low happiness globally — and Turkey scores very low here.

💰 2. Economic Struggles and Inflation

Turkey has faced a severe economic crisis in recent years:
- Hyperinflation (over 50% at times)
- Lira devaluation
- High unemployment, especially among youth
Basic goods like food, rent, and medicine have become unaffordable for many.
Economic uncertainty and inequality are major sources of stress.

Mental health is increasingly a concern, but services are underdeveloped and often stigmatized.
Young people face a lack of opportunity and widespread disillusionment.
Brain drain: Many educated young Turks are emigrating for better futures.

📺 4. Media Control and Distrust

Major news outlets are under government control or pressure.
Censorship of dissent and online platforms (Twitter, Wikipedia) has occurred frequently.
This creates distrust in information, pessimism, and alienation.

Turkey is deeply politically polarized, especially between secular and religious groups.
Social cohesion is weakening due to cultural divisions, refugee tensions (especially with Syrians), and urban-rural disparities.
Community vitality, a core happiness factor, is under pressure.

🏚️ 6. Natural Disasters and Government Response

Major earthquakes (e.g., February 2023) caused massive loss of life and property.
Many criticized the government’s response as slow or inadequate, fueling public frustration.
Post-disaster trauma has further reduced wellbeing, particularly in affected regions.

📊 Turkey in the UN World Happiness Report (2024 Estimates)

Indicator	Relative Score
GDP per capita	Moderate
Social support	Moderate
Healthy life expectancy	Moderate
Freedom to make life choices	Low
Generosity	Low
Perceptions of corruption	Very low