The Most Miserable States in America All Have One Important Thing In Common

Impact

Now we know which states in the U.S. are the happiest — but which are the saddest?

According to the Gallup Well-Being Index, the most miserable states in America are all concentrated in a bloc that runs from the Midwest to the South. See for yourself on the map below (the bright red area indicates the bottom quintile of states):

Image credit: Gallup

The saddest states in the U.S. are (in order from saddest to happier): West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

What accounts for the sadne