Press releases and reports - Dynamics of the perception of happiness (2001

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Press releases and reports

Dynamics of the perception of happiness (2001 – 2016)

Press release by Liana Novikova

In a period of December 3-12 of 2016, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) has conducted its own public opinion poll. Data were collected from 2040 respondents living in 110 settlements (PSU) in all regions of Ukraine (except for AR of Crimea) with the method of personal interviewing. The sample was stochastic and 4-staged with quota selection on the last stage, the sample is representative of the population of Ukraine aged 18 and above.

In Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts (regions) survey was conducted only in the territories that are controlled by the Ukrainian government. In this survey, the sample covered only the controlled part of Donbas in the same proportion as it stood for Donbas voters in the last parliamentary elections (October 2014) according to the data of CEC.

The statistical sample error (with a probability of 0.95 and design–effect of 1.5) does not exceed: 3.3% for indicators close to 50%, 2.8% – for indicators close to 25%, 2.0% – for indicators close to 10%, 1.4% – for indicators close to 5%.

Despite all the problems and difficulties, a little more than a half of the population of Ukraine are optimistic. According to a survey conducted by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology in December 2016, 54% citizens of Ukraine felt happy or somewhat happy, 25% felt partly happy and partly no, and 19% - rather unhappy or unhappy.

Compared to previous years, the level of happiness among the population of Ukraine has not changed significantly: while during 2001-2010 there was a growth of overall level of happiness of the population, after 2011 the share of those who feels happy slightly decreased, and after 2012 the share of happy people stabilized at 57 % -60%. This share slightly decreased in 2016.

*For 2012-13 here is an annual average.

The feeling of happiness depends on many factors, including socio-demographic aspects, quality of life, social environment and so on.

According to the results of a survey:

Young people are generally happier than elder people, and with the increase of age the level of happiness decreases. In December 2016, 74% of young people aged 18-29 felt happy, among people aged 30-39 years - 59%, among those who are 40-49 years old 51% called themselves happy, for 50-59 years it was 48%, for 60-69 years - 44%, over 70 years - 38%. The link with age is largely due to the state of health - the elderly often suffer from health issues, and as confirmed by research, health has a significant impact on the subjective feeling of well-being.
The higher the income level is, the more people feel themselves happy. Thus, among the poorest (not enough money for food) 40% called themselves happy, 50% - among the low-income part of the population (enough only for food), 68% - among people with average income (enough for food, clothing, may save some money), 85% - among people with the income above average (can afford expensive things).
Relatively less happy now are the residents of the Eastern region: in December 2016 59% of the population of Western region felt happy, 50% - in the Central, 60% in the Southern region, while in the East of the country this share is 44%. That is, war with all its consequences is an important factor that makes residents of the East region of Ukraine unhappy.

ADDITION

Table 1. Distributionofanswerstothequestion “Doyouconsideryourselfahappyperson?”, Ukraine in general %

Yes	22.9
Rather yes, than no	31.1
Equally yes and no	25.2
Rather no than yes	11.1
No	7.6
Difficult to say	2.0
TOTAL	100

Table 2. “Doyouconsideryourselfahappyperson?” – distribution by age, %

	18-29	30-39	40-49	50-59	60-69	70 +
Yes	39.4	25.4	20.5	18.9	13.1	11.4
Rather yes, than no	34.6	33.2	30.8	28.9	30.6	26.8
Equally yes and no	17.1	26.8	27.2	26.6	29.5	27.6
Rather no than yes	2.7	9.1	13.7	14.5	12.3	18.3
No	4.9	3.6	5.6	9.0	11.8	14.1
Difficult to say	1.3	2.0	2.2	2.0	2.7	1.9
TOTAL	100	100	100	100	100	100

Table 3. “Doyouconsideryourselfahappyperson?” – distribution by the income level, %

	We do not have enough money even for food	We have enough money for food but buying clothes is difficult	We have enough money for food, clothes, and we can save some	We can afford to buy some expensive things / We can afford to buy whatever we want
Yes	15.0	17.2	35.2	58.5
Rather yes, than no	25.1	32.8	32.3	26.8
Equally yes and no	23.6	28.2	23.2	9.1
Rather no than yes	18.4	12.0	5.5	0.0
No	16.8	6.9	3.1	3.8
Difficult to say	1.0	2.9	0.6	1.8
TOTAL	100	100	100	100

Table 4. “Doyouconsideryourselfahappyperson?” – distribution by macro-regions, %

	Western	Central	South	Eastern
Yes	25.1	20.8	24.9	20.3
Rather yes, than no	33.9	28.8	35.1	24.0
Equally yes and no	26.3	26.9	18.3	31.7
Rather no than yes	9.4	11.9	12.3	10.5
No	3.7	8.8	8.0	11.6
Difficult to say	1.6	2.7	1.4	1.9
TOTAL	100	100	100	100

Western macroregion – Volynska, Zakarpatska, Ivano-Frankivska, Lvivska, Rivnenska, Ternopilska, Khmelnytska, Chernivets`ka oblasts (regions); Central macroregion – Kyiv city, Kyivs`ka, Vinnytska, Zhytomyrska, Kirovohradska, Poltavska, Sumska, Cherkaska, Chernihivska oblasts; South macroregion – Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Mykolaivska, Odeska, Khersonska oblasts; Eastern macroregion – Kharkivska, Donetska, Luhanska oblasts.

Table 5. Dynamics of the perception of happiness (2001 – 2016)

“Do you consider yourself a happy person?”

	Jan.2001	Nov.2002	Nov.2003	Dec.2005	Oct.2006	Dec.2007	Mar.2008	Jun.2009	Jun.2010	Feb.2011	Feb.-Nov.2012	Feb.-Nov.2013	Feb.2014	May.2015	Dec.2016
Yes	20.0	22.9	24.0	21.7	22.8	28.0	28.1	30.3	33.1	34.0	21.8	24.3	22.0	23.1	22.9
Rather yes, than no	18.1	26.0	28.0	25.2	29.4	26.2	28.9	28.3	31.9	29.2	35.3	33.8	37.7	33.6	31.1
Equally yes and no	27.5	22.4	24.0	26.8	24.9	21.2	20.8	21.1	18.9	17.0	26.3	24.4	23.3	21.6	25.2
Rather no than yes	13.6	16.6	14.0	13.5	10.8	12.3	11.5	9.8	9.2	9.0	9.0	9.8	8.0	10.3	11.1
No	18.9	10.4	8.0	11.4	9.1	10.5	7.7	7.3	5.2	7.9	4.0	5.3	4.3	7.3	7.6
Difficult to say	1.9	1.8	2.0	1.3	3.0	1.8	3.1	3.2	1.7	2.9	3.6	2.5	4.7	4.1	2.0