The vast majority of Dutch people say they are happy, the percentage has only slightly decreased since 2019: from 88.9 to 86.4 percent. This is apparent from the study Social Cohesion and Well-being of the CBS.
A decrease can be observed in all age groups, but it is strongest among young adults (18 to 25). Moreover, this age group is now relatively the least happy. In 2019, before corona, 87.5 percent of young adults reported feeling happy, last year that had dropped to 80.9 percent. In 1997, 18 to 25-year-olds were the happiest.
The decrease is probably related to the corona measures that applied from March 2020 to this spring. Other studies show that young adults in particular suffered from measures that severely restricted social life.
The Dutch score highly internationally
65- to 75-year-olds were the happiest group. Nine in ten gave themselves a 7 or higher when asked by CBS how happy they felt. A number above 7 means someone is considered happy, a 4 or below means unhappy, and a 5 or 6 is neither happy nor unhappy.
Internationally speaking, the Dutch are among the happiest population groups. In the most recent World Happiness Report last March, a list that the United Nations publishes annually, the Netherlands was in fifth place behind Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland.
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