Wellbeing; material living conditions, 2003-2012

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Personal characteristics All Periods Happiness Not happy (%) Happiness Happy (%) Satisfaction with life Not satisfied with life (%) Satisfaction with life Satisfied with life (%)
Total population 2003 8 92 9 91
2004 8 92 9 91
2005 8 92 10 90
2006 8 92 8 92
2007 8 92 9 91
2008 8 92 8 92
2009 8 92 9 91
2010 old method 8 92 10 90
2010 new method 13 87 12 88
2012 13 87 13 87
Gender: male 2003 8 92 9 91
2004 7 93 9 91
2005 8 92 9 91
2006 6 94 8 92
2007 7 93 8 92
2008 7 93 7 93
2009 6 94 9 91
2010 old method 8 92 9 91
2010 new method 11 89 11 89
2012 13 87 13 87
Gender: female 2003 8 92 9 91
2004 9 91 10 90
2005 9 91 10 90
2006 9 91 9 91
2007 9 91 9 91
2008 8 92 8 92
2009 9 91 9 91
2010 old method 9 91 10 90
2010 new method 15 85 12 88
2012 13 87 13 87
Age: 18 to 35 years 2003 5 95 6 94
2004 6 94 8 92
2005 6 94 9 91
2006 5 95 6 94
2007 6 94 7 93
2008 5 95 5 95
2009 6 94 7 93
2010 old method 6 94 8 92
2010 new method 9 91 10 90
2012 9 91 10 90
Age: 35 to 50 years 2003 7 93 9 91
2004 7 93 9 91
2005 8 92 9 91
2006 7 93 9 91
2007 7 93 9 91
2008 7 93 9 91
2009 8 92 10 90
2010 old method 6 94 11 89
2010 new method 12 88 11 89
2012 10 90 12 88
Age: 50 to 65 years 2003 10 90 11 89
2004 10 90 10 90
2005 10 90 11 89
2006 9 91 10 90
2007 9 91 10 90
2008 9 91 9 91
2009 8 92 9 91
2010 old method 10 90 10 90
2010 new method 14 86 13 87
2012 18 82 17 83
Age: 65 years or older 2003 13 87 11 89
2004 14 86 11 89
2005 12 88 9 91
2006 12 88 9 91
2007 11 89 10 90
2008 11 89 9 91
2009 12 88 9 91
2010 old method 12 88 10 90
2010 new method 17 83 12 88
2012 15 85 13 87
Origin: Native Dutch background 2003 8 92 9 91
2004 8 92 9 91
2005 8 92 9 91
2006 8 92 8 92
2007 7 93 8 92
2008 7 93 8 92
2009 7 93 8 92
2010 old method 8 92 9 91
2010 new method 12 88 11 89
2012 12 88 12 88
Origin: Foreign western background 2003 12 88 9 91
2004 9 91 12 88
2005 11 89 11 89
2006 10 90 11 89
2007 12 88 14 86
2008 10 90 9 91
2009 8 92 13 87
2010 old method 11 89 14 86
2010 new method 17 83 14 86
2012 17 83 18 82
Origin: Foreign non-western background 2003 13 87 14 86
2004 13 87 15 85
2005 14 86 15 85
2006 4 96 11 89
2007 13 87 9 91
2008 13 87 10 90
2009 18 82 20 80
2010 old method . . . .
2010 new method 17 83 14 86
2012 . . . .
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains information on the wellbeing of the Dutch population aged 18 years and older in terms of happiness and satisfaction with life. These subjects are broken down by various characteristics of material living conditions, i.e. standardised income, frequency of holidays and living situation. The data are also broken down by personal characteristics, that is gender, age and origin. The data are based on the Health Interview Survey (POLS, 2003-2009), the Voluntary Work and Social Cohesion module (V&S, 2010 old method), the Social Cohesion and Well-being survey (SocSam, 2010 new method, 2012) and the Social Statistics Database (SSB). Data on household income and living situation from the SSB were added to POLS data for the years 2003 up to and including 2009. From 2010 onwards data were supplemented with the SSB data from the previous year.

Data available from 2003 till 2012.

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are definite.

Changes as of 16 January 2015:
This table has been discontinued.

Changes as of 16-12-2013:
In 2010 the survey was redesigned. As a consequence, statistics from 2010 onwards are not completely comparable to statistics from previous years. For 2010 there are statistics based on both the old as well as the new method. More information on the redesign can be found in paragraph 4.

When will new figures be published?
Not applicable.

Description topics

Happiness
Not happy
Share of the population who responded ‘not happy, not unhappy’, ‘not very happy’ or ‘unhappy’ to the question ‘To what extent do you consider yourself a happy person?’.

Happy
Share of the population who responded ‘happy’ or ‘very happy’ to the question ‘To what extent do you consider yourself a happy person?’.

Satisfaction with life
Not satisfied with life
Share of the population that responded ‘fairly satisfied’ or ‘not so satisfied’ to the question ‘to what extend are you satisfied with the life you’re currently living?’.
Satisfied with life
Share of the population that responded ‘satisfied’, ‘very satisfied’ or ‘exceptionally satisfied’ to the question ‘to what extend are you satisfied with the life you’re currently living?’.