Happiness in Turkey declined in 2018: Survey

ANKARA

Levels of happiness among individuals in Turkey declined in 2018 compared to the previous year, according to figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) on Feb. 22.

Some 53.4 percent of respondents of the “life satisfaction survey” carried out by TÜİK said they were happy, slightly down from 58 percent in 2017.

While 62.4 percent of women said they were happy in 2017, 57 percent of women said the same in 2018. Some 49.6 percent of men said they were happy in 2018, down from 53.6 percent the previous year.

In terms of age groups, the happiest age group in 2018 was the “65 years and above” group, while the 45-54 age bracket was the unhappiest.

Married people were happier than singles in 2018: 56.3 percent compared with 46.7 percent. When the level of happiness of married individuals was analyzed by sex, some 60.7 percent of married women and 51.6 percent of married men said they were happy.

When the level of happiness was analyzed by level of education, it was seen that the highest level of happiness was seen in individuals who did not complete school, with 59 percent. The rate for primary school graduates was 52.3 percent, the rate for high school graduates was 51.3 percent, and the rate for higher education graduates was 53.9 percent.

Some 74.2 percent of respondents said what made them happiest was their family. Children were cited by 12.9 percent of respondents, spouses were cited by 3.6 percent of respondents, parents were cited by 3.3 percent of respondents, and grandchildren were cited by 1.8 percent of respondents.

When respondents were asked about the most important factor for happiness, 69 percent of people chose “health.” “Love” came second with 15.5 percent, “success” was cited by 8.8 percent, “money” was cited by 4.2 percent, and “work” was cited by 2.2 percent.

A slightly fewer number of people were optimistic about the future compared with 2017, 72.1 percent in 2018 against 73.4 percent in 2017.

Among the employed, the highest satisfaction level was seen among those working for the country’s security forces in 2018, 75.2 percent of whom said they were happy. They were followed by workers in the transportation services at 74.8 percent, workers in health services at 70.4 percent, those employed in Social Security Institution (SSK) services at 63.1 percent, employees of the education sector at 56.7 percent, and those working for judicial bodies at 56.3 percent.

The survey canvassed private households in Turkey with residents aged 18 and older.