Grayson West
Happiness isn’t distributed equally across America. WalletHub’s 2025 analysis identifies certain states that repeatedly land at the bottom of well-being surveys, creating a pattern that’s hard to ignore. Residents in these places face unique challenges that chip away at their overall life satisfaction. Here are the states where happiness seems perpetually out of reach.
West Virginia
Did you know West Virginia ranks last for happiness? Despite its stunning mountains, residents report low emotional health and dissatisfaction at work. Weak community support and poor overall well-being show the state has a lot of work to do in helping people feel truly content.
Louisiana
In WalletHub’s 2025 report, Louisiana was placed 50th in overall happiness, with especially low scores in emotional and physical well-being and work environment. The state struggles with one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, and many residents face chronic health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Mississippi
Mississippi also ranks among the nation’s least-happy states. People experience the country’s lowest participation in sports, safety concerns that rank second-worst nationwide, and the fourth-highest divorce rates. These figures highlight serious lifestyle and community challenges across the state.
Alaska
Life in Alaska isn’t easy. Harsh climates and geographic isolation make mental health a real challenge. With the highest suicide rate in the country and few services available, residents experience pressures that go beyond everyday stress, impacting both individuals and communities alike.
New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment has its share of struggles when it comes to happiness. New Mexico falls among the least happy states, topping the charts in divorce rates and showing worrisome numbers for suicide and volunteer participation. It’s a sign of deeper issues within local communities.
Kentucky
Kentucky comes in as the eighth least happy state. The state has very low emotional well-being scores, and it stands as the fourth-worst in the nation for frustrating work environments. This shows just how much people are struggling in Kentucky. Together, these everyday and workplace struggles are chipping away at residents’ overall contentment.
Alabama
Life in Alabama comes with significant socioeconomic hurdles. Median household income sits at $56,929, whereas 15.6% of residents live in poverty. Limited access to healthcare and high food insecurity further strain well-being, thereby contributing to the state’s low happiness ranking.
Arkansas
Arkansas is near the bottom in overall happiness, with the state scoring 49th in emotional and physical well-being and 47th in work environment. Poor health outcomes, lower income levels, and weak community connections all factor into its low happiness ranking.
Nevada
High rates of depression and economic hardship affect many households in this state. Surveys reveal that 38.4% of Nevada adults showed signs of anxiety or depression in 2023—well above the national average of 32.3% These struggles demonstrate how daily pressures affect residents’ overall well-being and sense of safety in Nevada.
South Carolina
WalletHub’s 2025 analysis paints a sobering picture of life in the Palmetto State. South Carolina ranked 5th in the country for financial distress, with high rates of deferred payments, low credit scores, and a surge in bankruptcy filings. These economic pressures are compounded by mental health challenges.