Striking results from TurkStat data: Happiness is decreasing, unhappiness is increasing in Turkey

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has published the results of its 2024 Life Satisfaction Survey. According to the data released, the proportion of individuals aged 18 and over who define themselves as happy fell from 52.7 percent in 2023 to 49.6 percent in 2024, a decline of 3.1 points. Conversely, the proportion of those who feel unhappy rose from 13.7 percent the previous year to 14.5 percent in 2024, an increase of 0.8 points.

WOMEN LEAD IN HAPPINESS

The proportion of men who stated they were happy fell from 50.3 percent in 2023 to 46.9 percent in 2024. Among women, this rate was measured at 55.1 percent in 2023 and dropped to 52.3 percent in 2024.

MARRIED INDIVIDUALS ARE HAPPIER

The survey revealed that married individuals are happier compared to those who are not married. In 2024, the happiness rate among married individuals was measured at 52.5 percent, while this rate remained at 44.0 percent for unmarried individuals. When examined by gender, it was observed that 49.5 percent of married men and 55.4 percent of married women were happy.

ONLY INCREASE IN THE 25-34 AGE GROUP

When happiness levels were examined by age group, the only increase occurred in the 25-34 age group. The happiness rate in this group was 50.7 percent in 2023 and was recorded as 51.0 percent in 2024, an increase of 0.3 points. However, there was a decline in all other age groups. The largest decline was in the 45-54 age group. The happiness rate, which was 53.6 percent in 2023, fell by 7.1 points to 46.5 percent in 2024. In the 55-64 age group, it was measured at 47.5 percent, a decrease of 2.2 points. For individuals aged 65 and over, the happiness rate fell from 56.0 percent to 54.1 percent.

FAMILY IS THE GREATEST SOURCE OF HAPPINESS

The greatest source of happiness for individuals was their families. In 2024, the proportion of those who stated that their families made them happy was measured at 72.9 percent. This was followed by their children at 13.2 percent, themselves at 4.2 percent, their spouses at 3.4 percent, their parents at 3.0 percent, and their grandchildren at 1.9 percent.

HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HAPPINESS FACTOR

Looking at the values that are sources of happiness, it was observed that individuals derive the most happiness from being healthy. In 2024, the proportion of those who saw health as a source of happiness was measured at 68.3 percent. This was followed by love at 14.4 percent, success at 8.9 percent, money at 6.4 percent, and work at 1.8 percent.

THOSE HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE ARE IN THE MAJORITY

In the research conducted on individuals' expectations for the future, 64 out of every 100 people expressed that they were hopeful about their future in 2024. While the rate of men being hopeful was 63.6 percent, this rate was recorded as 64.9 percent for women.

AVERAGE LIFE SATISFACTION DID NOT CHANGE

In the study conducted to measure how individuals evaluate their lives in general, the level of satisfaction was calculated out of 10. Accordingly, the average life satisfaction score remained unchanged at 5.7 in both 2023 and 2024. While this rate increased by 0.1 points compared to the previous year to 5.7 for men, it decreased by 0.1 points to 5.7 for women.

PUBLIC SECURITY WAS THE MOST SATISFACTORY PUBLIC SERVICE

When satisfaction rates with public services were examined, it was determined that the highest satisfaction in 2024 was with public security services at 72.1 percent. This was followed by transportation at 67.4 percent, health at 63.2 percent, the Social Security Institution at 58.8 percent, judicial services at 55.9 percent, and education at 53.5 percent.

COST OF LIVING IS TURKEY'S BIGGEST PROBLEM

The most important problems of the country were also ranked in the survey. As of 2024, the biggest problem for the public was the cost of living at 29.2 percent. This was followed by education at 15.7 percent and poverty at 14.0 percent.

News Source: İHA