South Africa is one of the MOST stressed countries in the world
A recent study has ranked the countries that are the most relaxed in the world, as well as the countries who are the most stressed…
The most relaxed countries in the world
A recent study by GroundingWell has ranked countries based on their need for relaxation and have revealed the countries that are most stressed and most relaxed.
The study measured annual working hours, paid vacation days, work-life balance, stress levels, anger levels and life satisfaction index.
These factors were then weighted and combined into a “Relaxation Score” on a scale of 0-100, revealing which countries are most relaxed or most stressed.
“Our research shows that high workloads and minimal recovery time are fueling a culture where stress is the default state,” Oliver Bennett, a spokesperson from Grounding Well said.
“The clear difference between the most stressed and most relaxed nations highlights how national approaches to work-life balance directly impact well-being and quality of life.” Bennett added.
The top five most relaxed countries were:
| Country | Work-Life Balance Index | % of population experiencing anger | Life satisfaction Index | % of stressed population | Relaxation need score |
| Denmark | 73.45 | 14% | 8.8 | 18% | 1 |
| Netherlands | 69.1 | 9% | 8.7 | 28% | 10 |
| Germany | 71.84 | 15% | 8.1 | 32% | 13 |
| France | 66.62 | 17% | 6.1 | 33% | 15 |
| Finland | 71.55 | 7% | 10 | 33% | 16 |
The most stressed
On the opposite end of the data, the study also highlighted the countries in need of relaxation the most.
Unsurprising to many South Africans, South Africa featured in this top five ranking, placing at number four, with a HIGH relaxation need score of 71 out of 100.
The data also indicated that 17% of South Africans experienced anger.
The top five most stressed countries were:
| Country | Work-Life Balance Index | % of population experiencing anger | Life satisfaction Index | % of stressed population | Relaxation need score |
| Israel | 47.29 | 36% | 7.7 | 62% | 100 |
| Mexico | 42.97 | 8% | 3.6 | 39% | 82 |
| United States | 31.82 | 18% | 7.2 | 51% | 78 |
| South Africa | 47.88 | 17% | 0.3 | 36% | 71 |
| South Korea | 46.62 | 18% | 3.1 | 39% | 70 |
On a scale of 1-10, how stressed are you as a South African?
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