Happiness and misfortune are close together in the north
What is it about Germany's northernmost state that makes people there particularly happy? The population of Schleswig-Holstein is once again the happiest compared to other federal states, closely followed by the people of Hamburg. This is according to the new "Happiness Atlas" published on Thursday by the University of Freiburg with the support of the Süddeutsche Klassenlotterie (SKL). This is probably not due to the fresh northern air per se, because according to the study, the most unhappy people in Germany also live in the immediate vicinity - in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This was also the result of the previous survey.
Respondents were able to rate their satisfaction from 0 to 10. People from Schleswig-Holstein scored 7.21 points, those from Hamburg 7.11 and those from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 6.19. They were all surveyed between August 2022 and June 2023, around 11,400 people across Germany.
This is the eleventh time that people in the land between the seas have made it to the top of the "Happiness Atlas". "Be it with regard to their income, their job, their family life or their health - they consistently rate these areas of life positively," says the survey on Schleswig-Holstein.
According to the study, people in Hamburg are also happy. "Satisfaction in the areas of family and housing stands out in particular," write the authors. However, there are clear challenges in terms of income and job satisfaction. Persistent inequality and rising unemployment figures are dampening happiness in the Hanseatic city. And yet many are confident: "Almost half of Hamburg residents are also optimistic that they will be better or much better off in five years' time."
The fact that there are significantly fewer happy people in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on the other hand, is mainly due to the poorer economic figures and the much older population, according to the data. The authors of the study described it as worrying that even after the end of the coronavirus pandemic, people have not become more confident. Instead, the life satisfaction value has slipped even further into the basement. People are most dissatisfied with their income and their health. "Life satisfaction is particularly low in the rural periphery," it said. And yet there is also a small ray of hope: "However, they are happy with the beautiful natural landscapes."
In discussing the role of social affairs in influencing happiness, it's worth noting that the people of Schleswig-Holstein, known for their high levels of happiness, also have strong public services and social welfare systems in place. According to a recent study on science and society, these factors often contribute to increased life satisfaction and well-being.
Furthermore, in contrast to the happiness of people in Schleswig-Holstein, the lack of progress in science and technology could potentially be a contributing factor to the overall unhappiness reported in rural areas of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Innovations and advancements in various fields, as per numerous scientific studies, often lead to improvements in people's lives and overall satisfaction levels.
Source: www.dpa.com
