Flemish people have once again reported above-average levels of life satisfaction, despite the fact that high energy and food prices have caused enormous economic anxiety across the Belgian region over much of the past year.
According to a study published on Tuesday by Statistics Flanders, Flemish people reported a life satisfaction score of 7.1 out of 10: a statistically insignificant decline relative to 2021, when the average Flemish person registered an overall life satisfaction rating of 7.2.
Flemish women (7.2) were discovered to be slightly happier than men (7.1). The study also found that life satisfaction was heavily correlated with age: 18-34 year-olds reported a score of 7.0, while older groups reported increasing levels of contentment (35-49 year-olds reported a score of 7.1, 50-64 year-olds 7.2, and 65+ year-olds 7.3).
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Other interesting findings included the fact that those living with a partner without children (7.4) were happier on average than those living with a partner as well as kids (7.3). Meanwhile, those living alone were found to be just as (un)happy as those living with children but without a partner (6.7).
Among the survey's 6,000 respondents, 75% reported a life satisfaction score greater than 7, while almost half (48%) reported a score higher than 8. On the other hand, 6% — that is, roughly one in seventeen people — reported a rating lower than 5.
No statistically significant differences in life satisfaction were discovered between residents of Flanders' different provinces.
