Abdul El-Sayed defies $60 Million campaign against him, wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary

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  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Despite massive spending by outside groups and high-profile endorsements for his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed secured a decisive Democratic Senate primary victory and now heads into a closely watched November showdown. Abdul El-Sayed has scored one of the most closely watched political upsets of the 2026 election cycle, defeating Representative Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary despite facing more than $60 million in outside spending , much of it from pro-Israel political groups. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and sets up a high-stakes general election contest against Republican Mike Rogers in November. El-Sayed's campaign prevailed even after Stevens received late endorsements from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and influential national Democrats, including Representative James Clyburn . Those endorsements failed to reverse momentum behind El-S...
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Iraq ranks 95th globally on happiness index


Iraq Climbs Global Happiness Rankings — But Can Iraqis Really Feel the Improvement?

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj

Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 25 May 2026

Iraq Jumps Six Places in the 2025 World Happiness Report as Gulf States Continue to Dominate the Arab World. Iraq climbed six places in the 2025 World Happiness Report, ranking 95th globally. But despite improvements, Iraq still trails Gulf states as economic pressure, corruption, and instability continue shaping daily life.

Iraq Climbs in Global Happiness Rankings Amid Economic and Political Uncertainty

Iraq has climbed six places in the 2025 World Happiness Report, ranking 95th globally after placing 101st last year — a symbolic improvement that reflects gradual social and economic stabilization, but also highlights how far the country still lags behind regional neighbors.

According to the latest rankings, Iraq scored 4.98 points on the global happiness index, placing it ahead of several conflict-affected states but well behind wealthy Gulf countries that continue dominating regional rankings. The findings come at a time when Iraq faces a complicated mix of rising oil revenues, political tensions, youth frustration, and lingering public distrust in state institutions.

Gulf States Continue to Dominate the Arab World

The Arab world’s highest-ranking countries were once again the Gulf monarchies. The United Arab Emirates led the region with 6.76 points, followed closely by Kuwait at 6.63 and Saudi Arabia at 6.60. Meanwhile:

  • Jordan scored 4.31
  • Egypt scored 3.82
  • Yemen scored 3.56
  • Lebanon ranked among the world’s lowest at just 3.19

The data reflects a widening regional divide between oil-rich Gulf economies and countries struggling with economic crises, war, or institutional collapse.

Finland Remains the Happiest Country on Earth

For the eighth consecutive year, Finland retained its position as the world’s happiest country, scoring 7.74 points. Other top-ranked countries included:

  • Denmark
  • Iceland
  • Sweden
  • Netherlands

The Nordic countries continue outperforming most of the world due to strong welfare systems, low corruption, high public trust, healthcare access, and social stability.

Why Iraq’s Ranking Improved

Although Iraq remains in the lower half of the global index, the country’s upward movement signals modest progress in several areas. The World Happiness Report evaluates factors such as:

  • Income per capita
  • Social support networks
  • Life expectancy
  • Personal freedoms
  • Corruption perceptions
  • Public trust
  • Self-reported quality of life

Analysts say Iraq’s slight improvement may reflect:

  • Relative security stabilization compared to the ISIS war years
  • Increased government spending from oil revenues
  • Expanding infrastructure projects
  • Improved regional diplomacy
  • Reduced levels of large-scale violence

However, experts caution that statistical gains do not necessarily translate into widespread public satisfaction.

The Reality Behind the Numbers

Despite the improved ranking, many Iraqis continue facing:

  • Unemployment
  • Electricity shortages
  • Corruption
  • Weak public services
  • Political gridlock
  • Economic inequality

Youth frustration remains particularly high, especially among graduates struggling to find stable employment outside the public sector. In cities like Baghdad, Basra, and Sulaymaniyah, conversations about “happiness” are often overshadowed by concerns over living costs, political patronage systems, and uncertainty about the future. Social media reactions to the report were mixed, with some users welcoming Iraq’s improvement while others mocked the rankings as disconnected from daily reality.

A Region Defined by Contrasts

The Middle East continues to present one of the sharpest contrasts in global happiness data. While Gulf states benefit from:

  • Massive sovereign wealth funds
  • High living standards
  • Infrastructure investment
  • Relative economic stability

Other regional countries remain trapped by:

  • Conflict
  • Sanctions
  • Political instability
  • Economic collapse

The result is an increasingly unequal regional landscape where quality of life differs dramatically across borders.

Why the Happiness Index Matters

The World Happiness Report has evolved into more than just a symbolic ranking. Governments increasingly use the data to assess:

  • Social stability
  • Economic confidence
  • Institutional trust
  • Public morale
  • Governance performance

For Iraq, the improvement offers a positive headline — but also a reminder that long-term public satisfaction depends on deeper structural reforms. Without meaningful progress on corruption, governance, jobs, and public services, analysts warn that gains in statistical rankings may remain fragile. Because in modern Iraq, happiness is not measured only by economic numbers — but by whether citizens believe the future can truly become better.

#Iraq #WorldHappinessReport #MiddleEast #Kurdistan #Baghdad #HappinessIndex #Politics #Economy #Society #Finland #SaudiArabia #UAE

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