[Beijing Diary] Are Chinese People Happy?

A recent survey released by a global professional organization has become a hot topic in China. The 'World Happiness 2023' report, published by the polling agency Ipsos based on a survey of 22,508 adults from 32 countries, ranked China as the happiest country in the world. According to the report, 91% of Chinese respondents answered that they were happy when asked, "Considering all circumstances, are you happy?" Saudi Arabia (86%), the Netherlands (85%), India (84%), and Brazil (83%) followed.

This news also appeared in a briefing by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the 22nd, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular press conference, "Happiness is like a mirror that reflects a country's value choices and governance level," emphasizing that "China has thoroughly implemented a people-centered development philosophy, continuously enhancing the people's sense of achievement, happiness, and security." He added, "As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, the Chinese Dream ultimately is the happiness of ordinary people," and stressed, "We believe that the Chinese people's sense of achievement, happiness, and security will be sustainable." It is somewhat unusual for the topic of 'happiness' to appear in official press conferences where routine political and diplomatic Q&A sessions are repeated.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the '2023 World Happiness Report' released around the same time by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) showed different results. In this survey, China ranked 64th, placing it in the middle among the 137 countries surveyed. Judging by these two survey results alone, it is ambiguous whether China is happy or unhappy.

Many Koreans assume that Chinese people are unhappy. This is because China is a communist country rather than capitalist, socialist rather than democratic, and a country of control rather than freedom. Watching YouTube and Netflix, as well as gaming, are all heavily restricted. Not only do people lack voting rights for their rulers, but they also cannot openly point out or criticize problems with the leadership. However, the system of Chinese society experienced on the ground was both a demand of the Communist Party and a choice of the Chinese people. The country's intense surveillance and censorship feel closer to something the people themselves have voluntarily offered as a guarantee for safety and happiness. Regarding this trend within China, Professor Gai Kashitani of Kobe University’s Department of Economics in Japan has used the expression "happy surveillance state" (Happy Surveillance State China, 2021). Experiencing the final stages of the 'Zero-COVID' policy, the author's assessment that "Chinese people have given up freedom for happiness" was newly convincing.

Of course, it is difficult to view the Chinese people's sense of happiness solely as a result of utilitarian indoctrination. Looking closely at the survey questions used by Ipsos, the "main drivers of happiness" included "my life has meaning," "I control and manage my life myself," "I am mentally healthy," "I engage in social interactions and activities," and "I have a grateful heart." In any case, nine out of ten Chinese respondents answered "yes" to these.

Before making assumptions about the happiness of neighboring countries, there is one thing to note. In the Ipsos World Happiness survey where China ranked first, South Korea ranked second to last. Among the surveyed countries, only Hungary had a lower happiness level than South Korea. In the UN report, South Korea ranked 57th. Although this is seven places higher than China, the difference is not significant. In either survey, Koreans do not appear to be happy.