The happiest citizens of the European Union: unexpected results

The happiest nations of the European Union have been revealed, with Greece at the very bottom of the ranking.

Mozart’s homeland has the happiest citizens of the 27 European Union member states, according to Eurostat. Austria received a score of 7.9 out of 10 in the European Statistics Agency’s annual publication measuring “quality of life indicators.”

This country, located in the south of Central Europe, in the Eastern Alps, is rich, so its first place is not surprising. But the countries following it – Poland and Romania – are definitely surprising. These are clearly poorer countries, which suggests that life satisfaction is not about money. In the ranking they scored 7.7 points out of 10, as did Finland, which also ranks second.

Germany’s fall in rankings

At the other end of the scale, in the countries with the most unhappy people, another amazing country is Germany. Despite the fact that the economy of this country is one of the strongest among the 27 member countries EUthe numbers are disappointing.

In 2021, its rating was 7.1 points. The latest data (2022) shows it has dropped to 6.5. It is in second place from the bottom of the ranking, ahead only of Bulgaria. The Balkan country was the only one of the “27” that scored less than 6 points out of 10.

The scale ranges from zero – complete dissatisfaction – to ten – which means it couldn’t be better. In all Member States, life satisfaction increased according to educational level. Where you live also matters, although the results are not pure.

Qualitative characteristics of the survey

In Malta, Austria, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Luxembourg, people living in rural areas reported being slightly happier. In contrast, in Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Portugal, Hungary, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany and Slovenia, residents of urban areas said they were happier in life.

In general, residents of the bloc’s northern and many western regions tend to be more satisfied with their lives than residents of the Baltic countries. Those living near the Mediterranean and in the eastern parts of the EU are generally more dissatisfied.

Greece ranks low in the rankings

Italy, Spain and France, the EU’s three largest economies, score around 7.1 points from the continental average. Greece ranks third from bottom, ahead only of Bulgaria and level with Germany (6.5 points). According to last year (2021), it lost 0.6 points.

In any case, this is definitely progress, because in 2021 Greece ranked last 42 in the “happiness index”…

How is the happiness index calculated?

The main task of ranking countries in the world by level of happiness is to reflect the real well-being of nations. The following indicators are used to determine the index:

• GDP per capita. The level of economic development and wealth of the population is one of the most important factors. Gross domestic product reflects the economic activity of the population – the higher the indicator, the more citizens earn on average.
• Life expectancy. This indicator illustrates the quality of healthcare and the general well-being of the population. It is also influenced by the economy, social security and environmental situation.
• Social support. The number and quality of social programs available to vulnerable populations and those in need have an impact on the well-being of a nation. Financial assistance and various benefits help maintain a comfortable standard of living for those who, for whatever reason, cannot afford it.
• Freedom of decision making. This concept takes into account the right to participate in the political, legal and social life of the country, as well as the opportunity to express opinions without punishment for dissent. A democratic way provides citizens with opportunities for development in different directions and increasing their level of well-being.
• Perception of corruption. Actual data on corruption is taken into account when calculating the happiness index. The absence of a culture of bribes and abuse of power by officials guarantees citizens equal rights and comfortable living conditions.
• Ecological footprint. The indicator reflects the impact of human activities on the environment and natural resources. The Ecological Footprint helps assess how countries live and manage their resources sustainably.

And in the global “happiness ranking” Greece took 58th place.

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