miserable

The UK was ranked second most miserable country in a 2024 mental wellbeing survey, with only Uzbekistan scoring lower – but YouTuber Wendall travelled 4,000 miles from Walsall to discover a thriving nation full of friendly people

A global survey conducted in 2024 has ranked the UK as the second most miserable country on Earth, according to a report on people’s mental well-being. The Mental State of the World Report revealed that increased wealth and economic growth do not necessarily equate to better mental health.

While countries like the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania top the rankings, nations such as Britain and Australia trail at the bottom of the list.

The team from Sapien Labs, who compiled the report, suggest that factors including high smartphone usage, particularly among children, along with the declining significance of family and community, are contributing to widespread dissatisfaction with life.

Only one landlocked former Soviet republic in Central Asia scored lower than the United Kingdom. Adventurous YouTuber Wendall, known for his global travels seeking out intriguing stories about different ways of life, journeyed all the way from Walsall to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, to explore what life is like in Uzbekistan – a country supposedly even more downbeat than Britain.

However, what he found was a vibrant community with a positive, upbeat outlook on life and an absolute passion for European football. He also noticed a stark contrast with the people he met during his travels around the UK.

There are no direct flights to Uzbekistan, so Wendall’s 4,000-mile trek required a stopover in Turkey, where he splashed out £12 on a pint at 5am. Prices, however, are considerably more wallet-friendly in Tashkent.

His £60-per-night hotel was remarkably luxurious compared with UK lodgings, and there was little evidence of the hardship one might anticipate from a country that spent 67 years under Soviet rule.

“In recent years it’s been slowly, carefully reopening to the world,” Wendall explained. “On the surface, this seems a nation very much on the up, now open for tourism and business like never before.”

There’s certainly a laid-back approach to daily life that would be unthinkable in Britain. City park booths allow residents to try their hand at archery, while a vendor at Tashkent’s vibrant street market peddles beautifully crafted — yet menacing-looking — knives that would undoubtedly raise eyebrows on British high streets.

Surprisingly, most residents were perfectly comfortable appearing on camera, while back in the UK many of his interviewees preferred to remain off-screen.

One resident explained how dramatically Uzbekistan has transformed over the last decade: “You can say that it changed a lot in terms of education, politics and freedom. There is no war. It’s peaceful.”

While salaries were modest in the years following the Soviet collapse, they’re now climbing, she noted, with many Uzbeks who had sought opportunities overseas now choosing to return home. Tashkent’s metro network is significantly cleaner — and far more architecturally captivating — than the London Underground, Wendall noted, with ticket prices well below what you’d pay for a similar trip back home.

At the bustling street bazaars, you can snap up a knock-off Real Madrid top for next to nothing. And while English isn’t widely spoken among residents, they’ll enthusiastically shout out names of major European football teams in a bid to connect with visitors who don’t speak Uzbek.

When browsing the city’s street stalls, costs can initially appear eye-watering due to the exchange rate — one Uzbekistani som equals just £0.000062. A basic stuffed flatbread might cost 5,000 som, which works out at roughly 30p.

For a modest sum more, you can tuck into a serving of plov, a rice-based creation with lamb, carrots, and onions that’s celebrated as Uzbekistan’s signature dish. Wendall wasn’t particularly keen on it, though at those prices it’s hard to grumble.

Even a generous measure of brandy at one of the capital’s swankiest establishments will only set you back £1.50. It’s puzzling why Uzbeks have earned a reputation for being even gloomier than Brits.

Ultimately, Wendall was thrilled with his journey to the “world’s most miserable country.” He reflected: “It’s the supposedly most miserable, depressing country in the world — the only country more depressed than the UK. Well, I’ve met some wonderful people. I’ve been met with nothing but smiles, hospitality and a welcome I’ll never forget.”

Shelley Quijada, 35, bought a two-bedroom sea view apartment with a rooftop pool and a gym for just £54,000 in Egypt, where the family has been loving the ‘slower pace of life’

A family has waved goodbye to “miserable” Britain and relocated to Egypt in pursuit of “365 days of sunshine” securing a two-bedroom apartment with sea views and a pool for a mere £54,000. Shelley Quijada, 35, made the leap alongside her husband, Luis, 39, and their 14-year-old daughter to Sharm El Sheikh last October, drawn by bargain prices and a laid-back lifestyle.

The Derby-based business coach and social media agency boss is now pocketing an incredible £887 monthly on household bills and slashing £260 off her grocery expenses. The pair have purchased a two-bedroom flat boasting ocean vistas, plus access to a rooftop pool and on-site gym, all for just £54,000.

After stumping up a £27,000 deposit, they’ll fork out £1,125 monthly over the next two years before becoming completely mortgage-free. On top of that, the couple snapped up a studio flat for £24,000 cash, which they intend to let out.

Shelley explained: “We always knew we wanted to move abroad, my husband’s from South America, and I’ve always preferred the sun. After going on holiday to Egypt a few times, we fell in love with the peaceful feel of it.”

She added: “As soon as I got off the plane I would immediately feel relaxed. I prefer the slower pace of life.

“There are 365 days of sunshine, you can’t go wrong. It’s so much cheaper as well. We can live a very nice life here for a quarter of what people normally spend in the UK.

“We bought a studio apartment for £24,000. People immediately think it’s going to be horrible because of the price, but it’s beautiful.

“The most expensive meal out we’ve had was £17 for the three of us and our food shop is now £65 cheaper per week. All we did in England was go to Primark or the cinema and now we can go quad biking, boat trips and snorkelling.

“I can’t see myself moving anywhere else now. Egypt has got everything you could possibly want, the heat, the cheaper prices, the more relaxed way of life.”

Shelley and Luis, who’s in property, had harboured ambitions of relocating overseas for some time, given Luis hails from sun-drenched Venezuela and isn’t keen on Britain’s dreary climate. Spain was their initial consideration, but after several Egyptian getaways, they were captivated by the perpetual warmth and unhurried lifestyle.

Back in Britain, the pair brought in a combined £2,600 monthly and regularly spent every penny, forking out £550 on rent and £917 covering household expenses. Come October 2025, the family departed their Derby residence for Sharm El Sheikh, where Shelley reckons they settled in “straight away”.

Their daughter currently learns at home, though there’s a possibility she’ll attend a British institution in the area from next year. While bidding farewell to loved ones proved difficult, Shelley noted her relatives were thrilled to have a compelling reason to venture abroad more frequently.

Since Shelley operates remotely, she has the flexibility to work from any location, and the pair also leverage their social media presence to arrange local excursions for clients. The couple snapped up a “beautiful” studio flat for a mere £24,000, which they intend to let out, and have secured a two-bedroom apartment with sea views, complete with a rooftop pool and gym facilities, for only £54,000.

Whilst the family are thoroughly enjoying their Egyptian lifestyle, they’ve encountered several cultural adjustments, including poor road safety standards and locals inflating prices at markets, mistaking them for holidaymakers.

“It does take a bit of being used to, but it’s all a fun experience,” she remarked. Back in Britain, Shelley revealed that she and her loved ones were “never out past 6pm” and would typically spend evenings watching Netflix.

These days, blessed with Egypt’s magnificent climate, the family now pass their afternoons by the seaside and their evenings browsing shops and visiting juice bars until 10pm. “Our lives have completely changed for the better,” she declared.

In Britain, the household would fork out £100 weekly on food shopping, but their current grocery bill amounts to merely £35. Their Egyptian utility costs total just £30 monthly and they’ll own their property outright within two years.

“It’s all fresh produce from the market,” Shelley said. “The potatoes have literally just been harvested.”

The family also enjoys dining out at “healthy” restaurants once weekly, with their priciest meal costing just £17 for all three of them. This represents a massive saving compared to the £100-plus bills they regularly faced back home.

In Egypt, their monthly expenditure sits at around £800, which covers weekly restaurant visits and twice-monthly activities such as snorkelling in the Red Sea. The family intends to remain in Egypt permanently, with no plans to return to the UK.

She documents her journey on @movingourlifetoeg.

Shelley’s bills in the UK and Egypt

Weekly food shop in UK: £100

Weekly food shop in Egypt: £35

Utility bills in UK: £917

Utility bills in Egypt: £30

Rent in UK: £550

Rent in Egypt: £0

Mortgage: £1,125 for two years and then mortgage-free