Age increases happiness, and investing in employment and education is key to fostering it

Age brings happiness – Finns are not pessimists

One key finding of the study is clear: happiness increases with age. The oldest age groups consistently rated their happiness higher than the younger respondents. This may be linked to the contentment and adaptability that come with life experience.

Each year, respondents have also felt that things were slightly worse in the past and expect to be considerably happier in five years’ time.

– This comes naturally to us humans, and it’s exactly how it should be – we always tend to believe that things are improving and view the future as brighter than the past, says Professor Emeritus Markku Ojanen.

The study also dispels the myth of Finns being a gloomy lot: as many as 45% of respondents believe that their happiness is largely or entirely in their own hands. The survey shows that there are five times as many optimists as pessimists among the respondents, reflecting a firm belief in the future.

Education, employment, volunteering, and physical activity contribute to happiness

According to the study, education correlates positively with happiness, while unemployed individuals were found to be less happy.

– Volunteering and involvement in organisations revealed an important finding. Low levels of participation were directly linked to reduced happiness, and the same applied to physical activity. Those who engaged in physical activity only as much as absolutely necessary gave the lowest happiness ratings, says Ojanen.

As several studies suggest that volunteering and performing kind deeds for others increase happiness, the City of Vaasa launched a campaign in August 2023 to remind residents of the importance of doing good deeds. In addition to increasing their own happiness, everyone can take action to boost the happiness of others. The practice of doing good deeds continues in Vaasa, with residents being encouraged to speak to people they don’t know, thereby brightening the day of others – particularly those who are lonely or newly arrived and may not yet speak the local language.

– The City of Vaasa has highlighted the connection between performing good deeds and increased happiness in various ways. The positivity of Vaasa residents, highlighted in the survey, is evident in their enthusiastic participation in the good deeds campaign. To date, more than 5,300 acts of kindness have been reported on our website, says Leena Forsén, Director of Communications and Marketing for the City of Vaasa.

The happiness of Vaasa residents is at an all-time high

The annual happiness survey measures residents’ happiness on a scale from 0 to 100, and the average happiness score has now risen to 74.7. The lowest happiness score among Vaasa residents was recorded in 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine impacted happiness, leading to a sense of insecurity and economic concerns due to the rise in electricity prices. This year, a record 2,306 residents responded to the survey.

Key findings:

• Nearly 45% of respondents feel that happiness is largely or entirely in their own hands.
• Happiness typically shows only slight changes over the long term.
• Each year, there are five times as many optimists as pessimists regarding the future.
• Volunteering and physical activity contribute to happiness.
• ‘Happiness thieves’ are factors that undermine and hinder people’s sense of happiness. The most common ‘happiness thieves’ reported by respondents include pain and discomfort, excessive sensitivity, financial difficulties, and the pressure to be efficient. An increase in the number of happiness thieves reduces happiness, but only when five specific factors are mentioned. This likely reflects people’s ability to adapt to their problems.
• The key factor contributing to happiness is the ability to find joy in small moments.

About the study: The survey was primarily conducted online, although paper forms were also available. Each year, the samples are based on the willingness of Vaasa residents to participate in the survey. The share of female respondents is nearly 80%, which is typical for online surveys. The age distribution of the survey closely mirrors the demographic structure of Vaasa residents. The assessments of happiness, satisfaction, and well-being provided by Vaasa residents align with the findings Professor Emeritus Markku Ojanen has observed in other studies.