International Happiness Day - A New Zealand Edition
The what, the when, and the where of happiness.
It’s an old question, but does money bring happiness?
Well kind of. Having it may not make us happy, but the less of it we have, the more unhappy we are likely to be. Globally, thirty-eight per cent on a low income say they are unhappy compared to 29% and 25% for middle and high incomes. While many Kiwis report being generally happy, those on lower incomes experience greater levels of dissatisfaction, echoing the global pattern.
Our analysis shows that, while it may not be the biggest driver in our happiness, it is the biggest factor when it comes to making us unhappy. “My financial situation” is singled out more frequently than anything else as a reason for feeling unhappy these days. This is something that covers generations and income levels too.
But what makes us happy?
In contrast to what drives unhappiness, we find a broader range of factors at work here. Our generation, life stage and where we live all come into play. Overall, across our 30 countries, it’s family/children and feeling appreciated/loved which are most likely to make us happy. In New Zealand, being appreciated and loved is the top happiness driver, slightly ahead of family/children
When are we happiest?
Our age plays a role globally, with happiness typically lowest for those aged 35-49 years old. Once we reach age 50-74, we reach the happiest point in our adult lives. Kiwi’s aged 50-74 report the highest levels of happiness across all generations, and compared to the 30-country average.
Globally, and in New Zealand, males report slightly higher levels of happiness and lower levels of unhappiness. A key difference between males and females in New Zealand is that females cite ‘family/children’ as their key driver of happiness. When it comes to males however, feeling appreciated/loved is the biggest factor.
Where are we happiest?
In India 88% say they are happy, the highest in our survey of 30 countries, with 86% in the Netherlands saying the same. Hungary is the country where happiest is lowest. Only 45% of Hungarians say they are happy. In New Zealand, 77% are happy and 23% unhappy. Only six countries are happier than Kiwis in our survey of global happiness.
Interested in discussing this further? Contact us today.
