Lebanese, Iraqis among world's angriest populations amid political and economic crises: report

Lebanese and Iraqi people rank among the world’s angriest populations, according to a Gallup report on global emotions.

The report, which was published on Tuesday, measured a wide range emotions - including anger - and included data from over 100 countries. One thousand people, all above the age of 15, were surveyed. 

People were asked about any angry emotions experienced during the precedent day, monitoring frustrations regarding expenses, inflation, unemployment and feelings towards public services.

The report covered the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022.

Gallup found that almost 49 percent of surveyed Lebanese people met the criteria, the highest recorded anywhere in the world.

Lebanese anger can be attributed to a number of events, as the country has been witnessing an exacerbating political and economic crisis, since October 2019.

The country's unprecedented economic meltdown and the government’s disastrous policies have thrusted two-thirds of the population into poverty. Rising unemployment and sharp increases in food, medicine and everyday goods prices have also impacted on millions of lives, according to the UN.

Public services in Lebanon are also experiencing a major decline in efficiency. Homes and even offices experience long-lasting power cuts throughout the day, while hospitals continue to struggle with supply shortages.

The Lebanese lira has also lost over 95 percent of its value, plunging to an all-time low of 34,000 liras per dollar as of May this year seeing savings wiped out.

Lebanese frustrations were further aggravated by the country's struggle to grapple with multiple waves of coronavirus, as well as the anger and trauma that followed the deadly Beirut explosion, which killed over 200 people in August 2020.

Much like Lebanon, Iraq suffers from heightening levels of poverty, high unemployment rates, and inefficient public services. Such events prompted the 2019 Iraqi protests, which saw thousands rally against corruption and public anger over the government's failure to fulfill promises.

Iraq is also experiencing growing frustrations amid an ongoing political stalemate where parliament has failed to elect a president for more than seven months.

Other countries which featured in the top five angriest people include Turkey, Armenia and Afghanistan, all of which are currently reeling from increases in the cost if living, rising inflation and/or political crises and war.