Wellbeing; health and lifestyle, 2003-2012

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Health and lifestyle Periods Happiness Not happy (%) Happiness Happy (%) Satisfaction with life Not satisfied with life (%) Satisfaction with life Satisfied with life (%)
Total health 2003 11 89 12 88
2004 11 89 12 88
2005 11 89 12 88
2006 10 90 12 88
2007 11 89 12 88
2008 10 90 11 89
2009 10 90 11 89
2010 old method 11 89 12 88
2010 new method 15 85 15 85
2012 16 84 16 84
Experienced health: very good 2003 4 96 4 96
2004 3 97 5 95
2005 3 97 5 95
2006 2 98 3 97
2007 5 95 5 95
2008 3 97 5 95
2009 3 97 4 96
2010 old method 4 96 6 94
2010 new method 7 93 6 94
2012 4 96 5 95
Experienced health: good 2003 8 92 8 92
2004 8 92 9 91
2005 8 92 9 91
2006 8 92 9 91
2007 7 93 9 91
2008 7 93 7 93
2009 7 93 8 92
2010 old method 7 93 9 91
2010 new method 11 89 11 89
2012 12 88 12 88
Experienced health: less than good 2003 26 74 28 72
2004 25 75 27 73
2005 26 74 27 73
2006 26 74 27 73
2007 25 75 27 73
2008 24 76 25 75
2009 26 74 27 73
2010 old method 29 71 29 71
2010 new method 31 69 30 70
2012 38 62 36 64
Smoking: no 2003 10 90 10 90
2004 10 90 10 90
2005 10 90 10 90
2006 10 90 10 90
2007 9 91 10 90
2008 9 91 9 91
2009 9 91 9 91
2010 old method 10 90 11 89
2010 new method 13 87 12 88
2012 . . . .
Smoking: yes 2003 13 87 15 85
2004 14 86 16 84
2005 13 87 17 83
2006 12 88 15 85
2007 14 86 17 83
2008 13 87 14 86
2009 14 86 15 85
2010 old method 14 86 16 84
2010 new method 18 82 20 80
2012 . . . .
Alcohol consumption: no 2003 . . . .
2004 . . . .
2005 16 84 16 84
2006 15 85 15 85
2007 16 84 16 84
2008 15 85 15 85
2009 15 85 14 86
2010 old method 15 85 15 85
2010 new method 24 76 19 81
2012 . . . .
Alcohol consumption: moderate drinker 2003 . . . .
2004 . . . .
2005 9 91 11 89
2006 9 91 10 90
2007 8 92 11 89
2008 8 92 9 91
2009 8 92 10 90
2010 old method 8 92 11 89
2010 new method 13 87 12 88
2012 . . . .
Alcohol consumption: heavy drinker 2003 . . . .
2004 . . . .
2005 12 88 15 85
2006 8 92 10 90
2007 11 89 12 88
2008 11 89 10 90
2009 10 90 10 90
2010 old method 11 89 11 89
2010 new method 17 83 19 81
2012 . . . .
Weight: underweight 2003 . . . .
2004 . . . .
2005 15 85 20 80
2006 14 86 10 90
2007 15 85 13 87
2008 13 87 13 87
2009 . . . .
2010 old method . . . .
2010 new method . . . .
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 health and lifestyle, that is experienced health, smoking, alcohol consumption, (over)weight and physical exercise. 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 who responded ‘fairly satisfied’ or ‘not very satisfied’ to the question ‘To what extent 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 extent are you satisfied with the life you’re currently living?’.