Well-being; core indicators, background characteristics, 2013-2021

Well-being; core indicators, background characteristics, 2013-2021

Person characteristics Type of value Periods General Happiness Unhappy (%) General Happiness Neither happy, nor unhappy (%) General Happiness Happy (%) General Life satisfaction Dissatisfied (%) General Life satisfaction Neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied (%) General Life satisfaction Satisfied (%)
Total persons Average/percentage 2021 3.3 10.3 86.4 3.3 13.0 83.6
Total persons Standard error 2021 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.5
Sex: male Average/percentage 2021 3.4 11.4 85.2 3.4 13.3 83.3
Sex: male Standard error 2021 0.3 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.7
Sex: female Average/percentage 2021 3.2 9.2 87.6 3.3 12.7 84.0
Sex: female Standard error 2021 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.7
Background: Dutch Average/percentage 2021 3.1 9.0 87.9 2.7 12.4 84.9
Background: Dutch Standard error 2021 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.5
Background: western Average/percentage 2021 2.8 10.8 86.4 4.2 11.7 84.1
Background: western Standard error 2021 0.6 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.2 1.4
Background: non-western Average/percentage 2021 4.9 18.0 77.1 6.6 18.0 75.4
Background: non-western Standard error 2021 0.8 1.4 1.5 0.9 1.4 1.6
Level of educ: (pre-) Primary educ. Average/percentage 2021 6.7 18.2 75.1 5.7 22.1 72.2
Level of educ: (pre-) Primary educ. Standard error 2021 1.4 2.1 2.3 1.3 2.2 2.4
Level of educ: Lower secondary educ.. Average/percentage 2021 3.8 12.1 84.1 4.3 13.1 82.6
Level of educ: Lower secondary educ.. Standard error 2021 0.6 1.0 1.1 0.6 1.0 1.2
Level of educ: Upper secondary Average/percentage 2021 3.5 10.1 86.5 3.3 13.3 83.4
Level of educ: Upper secondary Standard error 2021 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.8
Level of educ: Bachelor degrees Average/percentage 2021 2.4 9.1 88.4 2.5 11.6 86.0
Level of educ: Bachelor degrees Standard error 2021 0.4 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.9
Level of educ: Master degrees Average/percentage 2021 1.8 7.9 90.3 2.0 11.6 86.5
Level of educ: Master degrees Standard error 2021 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.1 1.2
Age: 18 to 24 years Average/percentage 2021 3.7 15.4 80.9 4.0 19.1 76.9
Age: 18 to 24 years Standard error 2021 0.7 1.4 1.5 0.8 1.5 1.6
Age: 25 to 34 years Average/percentage 2021 3.1 11.7 85.2 3.7 14.4 81.9
Age: 25 to 34 years Standard error 2021 0.6 1.0 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.2
Age: 35 to 44 years Average/percentage 2021 3.5 9.7 86.9 4.2 11.3 84.5
Age: 35 to 44 years Standard error 2021 0.6 1.0 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.2
Age: 45 to 54 years Average/percentage 2021 4.1 9.3 86.5 3.9 13.4 82.7
Age: 45 to 54 years Standard error 2021 0.6 0.9 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.2
Age: 55 to 64 years Average/percentage 2021 3.1 9.5 87.4 2.6 11.0 86.4
Age: 55 to 64 years Standard error 2021 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.0 1.0
Age: 65 to 74 years Average/percentage 2021 2.2 7.7 90.0 1.9 10.9 87.2
Age: 65 to 74 years Standard error 2021 0.5 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.1 1.1
Age: 75 years or older Average/percentage 2021 3.0 10.2 86.8 2.8 12.8 84.5
Age: 75 years or older Standard error 2021 0.7 1.2 1.4 0.7 1.3 1.5
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


In general, persons of 15 years or older took part in this study, the well-being figures only apply to the Dutch population of 18 years or older. Therefore, this table consists of well-being figures of the Dutch population of 18 years or older in terms of happiness, life satisfaction, satisfaction with education opportunities, work, travel time, daily activities, physical health, mental health, weight, the financial situation, the house, the neighborhood, social life and the amount of free time. In addition, concerns about the financial future, feelings of unsafety and trust in others are included. Satisfaction with work and the travel time to and from work are measured only for people who have a paid job for 12 hours per week or more. For people who do not work or work less than 12 hours per week satisfaction with daily activities is reported. These subjects are reported for gender, age, education level and migration background.

Data available from 2013 till 2021

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

Changes as of August 18th, 2023:
None, this table has been discontinued.

When will new figures be published?
Not applicable.

Description topics

General
Happiness
The answer to the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you consider yourself to be a happy person. A score of 1 refers to very unhappy and a 10 to very happy?’.
Unhappy
Percentage of the people who score a 1 to 4 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you consider yourself to be a happy person. A score of 1 refers to very unhappy and a 10 to very happy?’. A score from 1 to 4 is classified as unhappy.
Neither happy, nor unhappy
Percentage of the people who score a 5 or a 6 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you consider yourself to be a happy person. A score of 1 refers to very unhappy and a 10 to very happy?’. A score of 5 or 6 is classified as neither happy, nor unhappy.
Happy
Percentage of the people who score a 7 to 10 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you consider yourself to be a happy person. A score of 1 refers to very unhappy and a 10 to very happy?’. A score from 7 to 10 is classified as happy.
Life satisfaction
The answer to the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you are satisfied with the life you currently lead. A score of 1 refers to completely dissatisfied and a 10 to completely satisfied?’.
Dissatisfied
Percentage of the people who score a 1 to 4 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you are satisfied with the life you currently lead. A score of 1 refers to completely dissatisfied and a 10 to completely satisfied?’. A score from 1 to 4 is classified as dissatisfied.
Neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied
Percentage of the people who score a 5 or a 6 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you are satisfied with the life you currently lead. A score of 1 refers to completely dissatisfied and a 10 to completely satisfied?’. A score of 5 or 6 is classified as neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied.
Satisfied
Percentage of the people who score a 7 to 10 on the question ‘On a scale from 1 to 10 can you indicate to what extent you are satisfied with the life you currently lead. A score of 1 refers to completely dissatisfied and a 10 to completely satisfied?’. A score from 7 to 10 is classified as satisfied.