The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first across the Arab world and 21st globally in the World Happiness Report 2021, which the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network issued. The report focused the effects of Covid-19 on the global quality of life and the happiness index in about 150 countries.
According to the report, there is a relationship between trust in state institutions, how they addressed the pandemic, and the happiness of societies.
Among the fields on which the report focused are measuring the impact of the pandemic on the work environment, social relations quality, individuals’ mental health, confidence in government procedures and the country’s ability to overcome the repercussions of the pandemic. It also measures the unemployment rates due to the pandemic, inequality and the spread of loneliness, as all these factors affect the happiness index.
The report focused on measuring the effects of Covid-19 on the global quality of life
Saudi Arabia achieved distinguished results in indicators of GDP, social support, average life expectancy, freedom to make life decisions, generosity and confronting corruption.
The pandemic has negatively affected the quality of life in all countries. Still, Saudi Arabia was able to adapt to the repercussions and continue to develop and improve the various sectors of quality of life while implementing precautionary measures. For instance, the tourism sector has succeeded in activating its plans and strategies and adapting them to the pandemic, making a qualitative leap in the industry. This adaptation also applies to sports, cultural, entertainment and other sectors related to the quality of life, in addition to hosting and holding international and local events.