Finland had the highest life satisfaction rating in the European Union, according to a set of figures from 2023 released Wednesday by Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency.
The average life satisfaction rating in the EU in 2023 was 7.3 on a scale from 0 to 10. Life satisfaction may be influenced by many factors, such as age, level of education, family and financial situation. The Eurostat figures look at factors such as countries’ material living conditions, leisure, social interactions, economic security and physical safety, governance and basic rights, natural and living environment and overall experience of life.
While the rating was highest in Finland (7.8), Belgium, Austria, Romania and Slovenia each came in at 7.7. The least happy people in the European Union were in Bulgaria (5.9), Latvia and Greece (both at 6.9). However, in all EU countries except Bulgaria, average levels of life satisfaction were higher than 6, meaning that respondents to the survey declared themselves satisfied rather than dissatisfied.
Younger people (16-29) in the EU in 2023 were more satisfied with their lives overall compared to people aged 65 and over. This was not however the case in all EU countries: in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Finland those aged 65 years and over were more satisfied with their lives.
Income and level of education of course affect life satisfaction in the EU. However, while people who are the highest earners and the most educated do tend to be more satisfied with their lives on average than those with the lowest incomes or who have, at most, a primary education, even people in the lowest categories tend to be more satisfied with their lives than not (with a rating above 6).
People living in households with dependent children rated their life satisfaction higher on average. However, there is no difference between men and women and by degree of urbanisation.
Overall life satisfaction, 2023, interactive map, Eurostat
Statistics Explained article on quality of life indicators – overall experience of life, Eurostat
