Ipsos Happiness Index 2025
The Ipsos Happiness Index 2025 has been published, which Ipsos has surveyed in 30 countries every year since 2011 to mark World Happiness Day on March 20. Only in four other countries - Japan, South Korea, Turkey and Hungary - are people even less satisfied with their lives.
Finances, relationships and family
My relationship with my family and children and feeling appreciated and loved are seen as the two biggest reasons in making us happy. However, there are variations across countries, generations and income levels about what makes people happy.
Our financial situation is the most likely part of our lives to make us unhappy. Across income levels, generations and countries, it's our personal finances which is the biggest driver in making us unhappy. However, we are in less agreement on what makes us happy. Our age, income and where we live all play a role in determining how happy we feel. In addition to the factors mentioned, the feeling of control over one's own life and mental health also play an important role worldwide.
Netherlands happiest in Europe, Hungary brings up the rear
Among the G7 countries, only the Japanese (60 percent) are unhappier, in Europe only the Hungarians (45 percent). The happiest people in the world are in India (88%), followed by the Netherlands (86%) and Mexico (82%).
Of the 20 countries that took part in the first Ipsos Happiness Index survey in 2011, 15 are less happy than they were then. Turkey recorded the biggest drop in happiness (-40 percentage points), followed by South Korea (-21), Canada (-18) and the USA (-16). Spain is the only country where happiness has risen by double digits since 2011 (+11).