Are You Happy? 91% of Chinese Say "Yes"... Only 57% of Koreans Respond

South Korea Ranks 31st Among 32 Countries in Happiness Index
Lowest Expectation of Getting a Partner

A survey revealed that the happiness level of Koreans ranks among the lowest in the world.

According to the 'GLOBAL HAPPINESS 2023' report released by the polling agency Ipsos on the 16th, South Korea's happiness level was 57%, ranking 31st out of 32 countries. Among the surveyed countries, only Hungary (50%) had a lower happiness level than South Korea.

Ipsos measured happiness levels based on the percentage of respondents who answered "very happy" or "quite happy" to the question, "Are you happy considering all circumstances?" Only 57% of Koreans responded that they were happy, while the rest answered "not very happy" or "not happy at all."

China ranked highest with a happiness level of 91%, followed by Saudi Arabia (86%), the Netherlands (85%), India (84%), and Brazil (83%). The United States ranked 14th (76%), and Japan ranked 29th (60%). South Korea's happiness level was far below the average of the 32 countries (73%).

South Korea's happiness level remained the same as one year ago (57%) but decreased compared to ten years ago (62%).

Ipsos explained that happiness levels in Southern Hemisphere countries were higher than those in high-income countries, including South Korea. Compared to one year ago, happiness levels in South American countries such as Brazil (63%→83%), Colombia (54%→80%), Chile (53%→79%), and Argentina (48%→74%) rose significantly.

Globally, the areas of life that bring the most satisfaction were found to be children (85%) and relationships with spouses (84%). The areas with the least satisfaction were the national economic situation and the national social and political situation, both averaging only 40%.

Koreans also reported the greatest satisfaction in their children (78%) and relationships with their spouses (73%).

Economic Situation Satisfaction 21% · Social and Political Situation Satisfaction 23% 'Among the Lowest'

Satisfaction with South Korea's national economic situation was 21%, and satisfaction with the social and political situation was 23%, both significantly below the average. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min, Asia Economy kimhyun81@

South Korea's low happiness index also reflected dissatisfaction with economic, social, and political conditions. Satisfaction with the national economic situation in South Korea was 21%, and satisfaction with the social and political situation was 23%, both significantly below the average.

Countries with lower economic situation satisfaction than South Korea were Argentina (15%), the United Kingdom (19%), and Portugal (12%). Countries with lower social and political situation satisfaction were Argentina (17%), Hungary (20%), and Portugal (21%).

Additionally, South Korea showed particularly low satisfaction in terms of feeling a sense of meaning in life (34%) and material wealth (39%).

Only 61% of Koreans said they have close friends or relatives they can rely on when they need help. This ranked 30th out of 32 countries, with only Japan (54%) and Brazil (58%) behind South Korea.

Forty-one percent of Koreans reported having experienced a very distressing event recently, and 35% said they faced a difficult situation they could not resolve alone. South Korea also ranked lowest in the expectation of having a lover or spouse in the future.

Among single Koreans, the proportion who believe it will become more difficult to find a lover or spouse within the next ten years was 58 percentage points higher than those who think it will become easier.