Rwanda has emerged among the countries recording the highest levels of reported daily stress globally, with 64% of surveyed respondents saying they experienced significant stress during the previous day.
The figure puts Rwanda joint top with Sierra Leone in the latest global emotional experiences data compiled by Statista from Gallup’s survey. Cyprus follows at 60%, while Egypt records 58%.
The ranking measures how many people said they experienced stress for a significant part of the previous day, and it is not a medical diagnosis or an indication that the countries listed have the highest rates of stress-related illnesses.
Why Rwanda Ranks High
Rwanda’s position is based on the responses given by people who took part in Gallup’s global survey.
In the survey, respondents were asked whether they experienced stress during a significant part of the previous day, and in Rwanda, 64% answered yes.
The same proportion was recorded in Sierra Leone, placing the two countries at the top of the list.
The result does not, however, establish a particular reason why respondents in Rwanda reported experiencing stress. The survey question captures people’s emotional experiences but does not attribute those experiences to specific factors such as the economy, employment, politics, family circumstances, or security.
This makes the finding a measure of reported daily stress, rather than a declaration that Rwanda is the world’s most stressful country.
Also Read: World’s Happiest Countries Ranked and Why Money Isn’t Everything
How Stress Was Measured
Gallup’s Global Emotions research asks people about how they felt during the previous day.
For stress, respondents are asked whether they experienced the feeling much of the day yesterday. Researchers then use their responses to calculate the percentage of people in each country who reported experiencing significant stress.
The same approach measures other negative emotions, including worry, sadness, and anger, as well as positive experiences.
Because respondents report their own experiences, the results indicate how people felt at the time of the survey rather than providing a clinical assessment of their mental health.
Top 10 Most Stressed Nations
| Rank | Country | Reported daily stress |
| 1 | Rwanda | 64% |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 64% |
| 3 | Cyprus | 60% |
| 4 | Egypt | 58% |
| 5 | Greece | 57% |
| 6 | Iraq | 57% |
| 7 | Northern Cyprus | 57% |
| 8 | Türkiye | 57% |
| 9 | Chad | 56% |
| 10 | Lebanon | 56% |
The list includes countries from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with reported stress levels ranging from 56% to 64%.
Also Read: Top 10 Drunkest Countries in the World Ranked 2026
Rwanda and Sierra Leone share the highest reported figure at 64%, followed by Cyprus at 60%.
Egypt comes next at 58%, while Greece, Iraq, Northern Cyprus and Türkiye each recorded 57%. Chad and Lebanon complete the list at 56%.
Gallup’s global data has found that a substantial share of adults report experiencing significant stress on a typical day. Its emotional health research also tracks worry, sadness, anger, and positive emotions to show how people experience daily life around the world.
The country figures should be viewed as a snapshot of reported emotions rather than a measure of the overall wellbeing of an entire population.
For Rwanda, the headline finding is that 64% of surveyed respondents reported experiencing significant stress during the previous day, giving the country a joint-highest position in the 2025 data.
The survey does not explain the reasons behind those responses or establish that one country is objectively more stressful to live in than another.
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