2016 has been light on those

"But his Strictly journey came to an end this evening, when his Rolling Stones tango couldn’t give enough Satisfaction to keep him in the competition. He might not have been the UK’s most popular politician, nor Strictly’s best dancer, but he brought plenty of smiles this autumn, and lord knows 2016 has been light on those. Thanks, Glitterballs – you’ve been unforgettable."(The Guardian.)

Does "2016 has been light on those" mean that 2016 has been low on smiles in the paragraph above?