The 10 Least Happy States

Earlier this week, we took a look at WalletHub’s list of the Happiest States in the US. Today, we’re returning to that list, but looking at the other end of the spectrum — the unhappiest states.

While western states tended to score well on the “happiness” spectrum, states in the Midwest and Southeast populate all of the slots on the bottom of the happiness scale.

One major reason is health. The five states with the highest obesity rates are all in the bottom 10 when it comes to happiness. So are the four states with the lowest sports participation rates.

Those are just two of the 25 metrics used by WalletHub to craft its list. Other metrics include divorce rates, volunteerism rates, unemployment and work hours data, and how many hours of sleep residents typically get, among others. Those 25 metrics were broken down into three broad categories: Emotional and Physical Wellbeing; Work Environment; and Community, Environment and Recreation.

What follows are the 10 states that scored lowest in the Happiness report. The report included Washington DC (which ranked 25^th in happiness), thus the bottom 10 are those states ranked 42^nd through 51^st. Included in each state’s capsule is its rank in each of the three categories described above, as well as the state’s rank in last year’s study.

42. Michigan

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 41

Work Environment Rank: 25

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 43

2014 Rank: 43

43. Ohio

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 43

Work Environment Rank: 27

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 37

2014 Rank: 44

44. Missouri

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 45

Work Environment Rank: 22

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 36

2014 Rank: 38

45. Oklahoma

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 49

Work Environment Rank: 21

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 41

2014 Rank: 41

46. Arkansas

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 46

Work Environment Rank: 30

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 49

2014 Rank: 48

47. Tennessee

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 47

Work Environment Rank: 46

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 46

2014 Rank: 46

48. Mississippi

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 42

Work Environment Rank: 50

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 51

2014 Rank: 49

49. Kentucky

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 50

Work Environment Rank: 38

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 48

2014 Rank: 47

50. Alabama

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 47

Work Environment Rank: 49

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 49

2014 Rank: 50

51. West Virginia

Emotional and Physical Wellbeing Rank: 51

Work Environment Rank: 43

Community, Environment, Recreation Rank: 50

2014 Rank: 51

To read WalletHub’s full list, click here.