The misery index, a crude economic measure created by Arthur Orkum, sums a country's unemployment and inflation rates to assess conditions on the ground (the higher the number, the more miserable a country is). The reasoning: most citizens understand the pain of a high jobless rate and the soaring price of goods.
Business Insider totaled the figures for 197 countries and territories from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe to compile the 2013 Misery Index.
Note: Results are based on CIA World Factbook data, which estimates figures for countries and territories that do not have reliable local reporting agencies. The CIA World Factbook was last updated on February 11, 2013.
Here is the list of the most miserable countries in the world
1. Zimbabwe
Misery index score: 103.3
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 95%
2. Liberia
Misery index score: 90.5
CPI inflation: 5.5%
Unemployment: 85%
3. Burkina Faso
Misery index score: 81.5
CPI inflation: 4.5%
Unemployment: 77%
4. Belarus
Misery index score: 71
CPI inflation: 70%
Unemployment: 1%
5. Turkmenistan
Misery index score: 70.5
CPI inflation: 10.5%
Unemployment: 60%
6. Djibouti
Misery index score: 63.3
CPI inflation: 4.3%
Unemployment: 59%
7. Namibia
Misery index score: 57
CPI inflation: 5.8%
Unemployment: 51.2%
8. Nepal
Misery index score: 54.3
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 46%
9. Kosovo
Misery index score: 53.6
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 45.3%
10. Syria
Misery index score: 51.7
CPI inflation: 33.7%
Unemployment: 18%
11. Sudan
Misery index score: 51.5
CPI inflation: 31.5%
Unemployment: 20%
12. Lesotho
Misery index score: 51.1
CPI inflation: 6.1%
Unemployment: 45%
13. Kenya
Misery index score: 50.1
CPI inflation: 10.1%
Unemployment: 40%
14. Senegal
Misery index score: 49.5
CPI inflation: 1.5%
Unemployment: 48%
15. Marshall Islands
Misery index score: 48.9
CPI inflation: 12.9%
Unemployment: 36%
16. Afghanistan
Misery index score: 48.8
CPI inflation: 13.8%
Unemployment: 35%
17. Swaziland
Misery index score: 48.4
CPI inflation: 8.4%
Unemployment: 40%
18. Haiti
Misery index score: 46.5
CPI inflation: 5.9%
Unemployment: 40.6%
19. Yemen
Misery index score: 46.4
CPI inflation: 11.4%
Unemployment: 35%
20. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Misery index score: 45.5
CPI inflation: 2.2%
Unemployment: 43.3%
21. Gaza Strip
Misery index score: 43.5
CPI inflation: 3.5%
Unemployment: 40%
22. Maldives
Misery index score: 40.8
CPI inflation: 12.8%
Unemployment: 28%
23. Iran
Misery index score: 39.1
CPI inflation: 23.6%
Unemployment: 15.5%
24. Mauritania
Misery index score: 37
CPI inflation: 7%
Unemployment: 30%
25. Mali
Misery index score: 36.5
CPI inflation: 6.5%
Unemployment: 30%
Source: The 25 Most Miserable Places in the World - Yahoo! Finance
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Business Insider totaled the figures for 197 countries and territories from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe to compile the 2013 Misery Index.
Note: Results are based on CIA World Factbook data, which estimates figures for countries and territories that do not have reliable local reporting agencies. The CIA World Factbook was last updated on February 11, 2013.
Here is the list of the most miserable countries in the world
1. Zimbabwe
Misery index score: 103.3
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 95%
2. Liberia
Misery index score: 90.5
CPI inflation: 5.5%
Unemployment: 85%
3. Burkina Faso
Misery index score: 81.5
CPI inflation: 4.5%
Unemployment: 77%
4. Belarus
Misery index score: 71
CPI inflation: 70%
Unemployment: 1%
5. Turkmenistan
Misery index score: 70.5
CPI inflation: 10.5%
Unemployment: 60%
6. Djibouti
Misery index score: 63.3
CPI inflation: 4.3%
Unemployment: 59%
7. Namibia
Misery index score: 57
CPI inflation: 5.8%
Unemployment: 51.2%
8. Nepal
Misery index score: 54.3
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 46%
9. Kosovo
Misery index score: 53.6
CPI inflation: 8.3%
Unemployment: 45.3%
10. Syria
Misery index score: 51.7
CPI inflation: 33.7%
Unemployment: 18%
11. Sudan
Misery index score: 51.5
CPI inflation: 31.5%
Unemployment: 20%
12. Lesotho
Misery index score: 51.1
CPI inflation: 6.1%
Unemployment: 45%
13. Kenya
Misery index score: 50.1
CPI inflation: 10.1%
Unemployment: 40%
14. Senegal
Misery index score: 49.5
CPI inflation: 1.5%
Unemployment: 48%
15. Marshall Islands
Misery index score: 48.9
CPI inflation: 12.9%
Unemployment: 36%
16. Afghanistan
Misery index score: 48.8
CPI inflation: 13.8%
Unemployment: 35%
17. Swaziland
Misery index score: 48.4
CPI inflation: 8.4%
Unemployment: 40%
18. Haiti
Misery index score: 46.5
CPI inflation: 5.9%
Unemployment: 40.6%
19. Yemen
Misery index score: 46.4
CPI inflation: 11.4%
Unemployment: 35%
20. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Misery index score: 45.5
CPI inflation: 2.2%
Unemployment: 43.3%
21. Gaza Strip
Misery index score: 43.5
CPI inflation: 3.5%
Unemployment: 40%
22. Maldives
Misery index score: 40.8
CPI inflation: 12.8%
Unemployment: 28%
23. Iran
Misery index score: 39.1
CPI inflation: 23.6%
Unemployment: 15.5%
24. Mauritania
Misery index score: 37
CPI inflation: 7%
Unemployment: 30%
25. Mali
Misery index score: 36.5
CPI inflation: 6.5%
Unemployment: 30%
Source: The 25 Most Miserable Places in the World - Yahoo! Finance
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