Well-being, 2022
Satisfaction with financial situation and amount of leisure time up, with personal relationships at the same level
Overall satisfaction with life in 2022 was strongly influenced by interpersonal relationships, feeling happy, and health status. More people than in 2018, two thirds, felt happy all or most of the time. The satisfaction with the financial situation and the amount of leisure time also increased.
Still most satisfied with personal relationships with relatives, friends, neighbours
In 2022, the average self-assessment of satisfaction with personal relationships with relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues at work was 8.6, which is the same as in 2018, and 0.3 more than in 2013, when we also measured the subjective perception of wellbeing of Slovenian residents aged 16 or over. This was also the highest value achieved so far in all measurements of satisfaction in this survey. Different types of satisfaction were evaluated on a scale from 0 - not at all satisfied to 10 - completely satisfied. 92% of people rated their satisfaction with personal relationships with values from 7 to 10. As expected, younger people were more satisfied with personal relationships. Among age groups, those aged 25–34 were the most satisfied (8.8).
The average level of satisfaction with the household's financial situation up
The level of satisfaction with the financial situation is largely influenced by the subjective perception of one's financial situation. Those who perceived that they make ends meet without problems also gave very high scores (average self-assessment: 8.0). However, on the other hand, those who made ends meet with great difficulties were also among the most dissatisfied with their financial situation (4.3). This self-assessment was lower than the self-assessment of those who were classified in the lowest income quintile (5.7). Otherwise, compared to 2018, the average level of satisfaction with the household's financial situation increased by 0.4.
Pensioners the most satisfied with the amount of leisure time
36% of people aged 16 and over rated their satisfaction with the amount of leisure time available to them with the highest scores (9 and 10). The average self-assessment of satisfaction increased by 0.3 (7.5) compared to 2018. There were no differences between men and women. However, there were differences according to employment status. The self-employed were the least satisfied with the length of leisure time (6.6) and the retired the most (8.4).
Good interpersonal relationships had a significant impact on overall life satisfaction
27% of people aged 16 and over rated overall satisfaction with life with the highest scores (9–10), i.e. 3 percentage points fewer than in 2021. The average also decreased slightly (from 7.7 to 7.6). On the other hand, the average self-assessment increased by 0.3 compared to 2018. The value of the indicator did not differ between the sexes. The data show that the level of satisfaction depends mainly on health, activity status, financial situation, education and several other factors (leisure time, friends, interpersonal relationships, etc.). Those who rated interpersonal relationships with the highest scores (9–10) rated their life satisfaction with an average score of 9.2, while those who rated interpersonal relations with the lowest scores (0–5) also gave a lower average score: 7.5.
Life satisfaction is also very closely related to the feeling of happiness. Those who felt happy all the time rated their life satisfaction with an average score of 8.7, while those who had never been happy in the last four weeks also reported a significantly lower overall life satisfaction (4.6).
Younger people felt happy more often than older people
In the last four weeks before the survey in 2022, 10% of people were happy all the time. Compared to 2018, the share of people who were happy all the time was the same, but the share of those who felt happy most of the time increased by 7 percentage points (2018: 49%; 2022: 56%). In total, two thirds (66%) were happy all or most of the time, which is more than in 2018. Compared to 2013, the share of those who felt happy most of the time fell by 3 percentage points. The share of those who felt happy rarely or never increased by 6 percentage points compared to 2013, but decreased by 1 percentage point compared to 2018.
During the same period, 4% of people were lonely all or most of the time, which is the same share as four years ago. The share of those who rarely or never felt lonely was 2 percentage points lower than in 2018.
Differences in the feeling of happiness were noticeable in terms of age groups, especially between the young (16–24 years) and the elderly (65 and over). Younger people felt happy more of the time than older people did. However, compared to older people, younger people felt lonely all the time or most of the time in roughly the same share.
Most could count on the help of relatives, friends, acquaintances, neighbours
In 2022, 93% of Slovenian residents aged 16 or over could count on material (e.g. money, consumer goods etc.) or non-material help (e.g. talking about feelings, help with a task, help in case of illness) if such help were needed. There were no significant differences between men and women. However, younger people could count on such help in a larger share than older people. The share was the highest in the age group 25–34 years (97%), and the lowest among those aged 65+ (89%).
In 2022, the average self-assessment of satisfaction with personal relationships with relatives, friends, neighbours, colleagues at work was 8.6, which is the same as in 2018, and 0.3 more than in 2013, when we also measured the subjective perception of wellbeing of Slovenian residents aged 16 or over. This was also the highest value achieved so far in all measurements of satisfaction in this survey. Different types of satisfaction were evaluated on a scale from 0 - not at all satisfied to 10 - completely satisfied. 92% of people rated their satisfaction with personal relationships with values from 7 to 10. As expected, younger people were more satisfied with personal relationships. Among age groups, those aged 25–34 were the most satisfied (8.8).
The average level of satisfaction with the household's financial situation up
The level of satisfaction with the financial situation is largely influenced by the subjective perception of one's financial situation. Those who perceived that they make ends meet without problems also gave very high scores (average self-assessment: 8.0). However, on the other hand, those who made ends meet with great difficulties were also among the most dissatisfied with their financial situation (4.3). This self-assessment was lower than the self-assessment of those who were classified in the lowest income quintile (5.7). Otherwise, compared to 2018, the average level of satisfaction with the household's financial situation increased by 0.4.
Pensioners the most satisfied with the amount of leisure time
36% of people aged 16 and over rated their satisfaction with the amount of leisure time available to them with the highest scores (9 and 10). The average self-assessment of satisfaction increased by 0.3 (7.5) compared to 2018. There were no differences between men and women. However, there were differences according to employment status. The self-employed were the least satisfied with the length of leisure time (6.6) and the retired the most (8.4).
Good interpersonal relationships had a significant impact on overall life satisfaction
27% of people aged 16 and over rated overall satisfaction with life with the highest scores (9–10), i.e. 3 percentage points fewer than in 2021. The average also decreased slightly (from 7.7 to 7.6). On the other hand, the average self-assessment increased by 0.3 compared to 2018. The value of the indicator did not differ between the sexes. The data show that the level of satisfaction depends mainly on health, activity status, financial situation, education and several other factors (leisure time, friends, interpersonal relationships, etc.). Those who rated interpersonal relationships with the highest scores (9–10) rated their life satisfaction with an average score of 9.2, while those who rated interpersonal relations with the lowest scores (0–5) also gave a lower average score: 7.5.
Life satisfaction is also very closely related to the feeling of happiness. Those who felt happy all the time rated their life satisfaction with an average score of 8.7, while those who had never been happy in the last four weeks also reported a significantly lower overall life satisfaction (4.6).
Younger people felt happy more often than older people
In the last four weeks before the survey in 2022, 10% of people were happy all the time. Compared to 2018, the share of people who were happy all the time was the same, but the share of those who felt happy most of the time increased by 7 percentage points (2018: 49%; 2022: 56%). In total, two thirds (66%) were happy all or most of the time, which is more than in 2018. Compared to 2013, the share of those who felt happy most of the time fell by 3 percentage points. The share of those who felt happy rarely or never increased by 6 percentage points compared to 2013, but decreased by 1 percentage point compared to 2018.
During the same period, 4% of people were lonely all or most of the time, which is the same share as four years ago. The share of those who rarely or never felt lonely was 2 percentage points lower than in 2018.
Differences in the feeling of happiness were noticeable in terms of age groups, especially between the young (16–24 years) and the elderly (65 and over). Younger people felt happy more of the time than older people did. However, compared to older people, younger people felt lonely all the time or most of the time in roughly the same share.
Most could count on the help of relatives, friends, acquaintances, neighbours
In 2022, 93% of Slovenian residents aged 16 or over could count on material (e.g. money, consumer goods etc.) or non-material help (e.g. talking about feelings, help with a task, help in case of illness) if such help were needed. There were no significant differences between men and women. However, younger people could count on such help in a larger share than older people. The share was the highest in the age group 25–34 years (97%), and the lowest among those aged 65+ (89%).
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
The data from the ad hoc module "Wellbeing" were collected in the framework of the internationally comparable survey Living Conditions (EU-SILC), with a survey questionnaire in the first half of 2022.
More detailed cross-sectional data will be published in the SiStat Database on 26 May 2023.
With this release we are also publishing some additional tables in the SiStat Database from the topic Living conditions, detailed data, 2021.
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanation Living conditions.
The survey is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Eurostat. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
More detailed cross-sectional data will be published in the SiStat Database on 26 May 2023.
With this release we are also publishing some additional tables in the SiStat Database from the topic Living conditions, detailed data, 2021.
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanation Living conditions.
The survey is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Eurostat. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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