An interactive map has revealed the happiest – and unhappiest – counties in Britain.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) asks tens of thousands of Britons each year how they rate their happiness, life satisfaction, anxiety and self-esteem out of a maximum of 10 points.
Average happiness scores fell to 7.39 in 2022/23 – the lowest since 2020/21, when the Covid pandemic began.
Adur in West Sussex came last, with residents scoring an average of 6.16.
Statisticians did not say what exactly might be behind the decline. Although the data covers the period when Britain entered a cost of living crisis.
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Scotland’s Shetland Islands (pictured) scored the happiest with 8.22 out of 10, while Na h-Eileanan Siar – the Outer Hebrides – came second with 8.12.
Studies also suggest that Covid and the effects of restrictions have led to a decline in mental and physical health.
You can use the interactive ONS tool to look up scores for life satisfaction, self-esteem, happiness and anxiety – the four pillars that make up personal well-being according to the ONS – in your area.
Since 2011, the ONS has been asking Brits to report it out of 10 for these four areas measured every year since then whether it improved or worsened.
The four personal well-being questions include: “How satisfied are you with your life these days?”
Volunteers are also asked: “To what extent do you find the things you do in your life worthwhile?”, “How happy did you feel yesterday?” and “How anxious did you feel yesterday?”.
Shetland recorded the happiest score with 8.22 out of 10 After h-Eileanan, Siar – the Outer Hebrides – came second with 8.12.
Followed them North Kesteven in Lincolnshire (8.09), Pendle, Lancashire (8.06) and the Malvern Hills (8.06), spanning Worcestershire, Herefordshire and north Gloucestershire.
At the other end of the scale was Adur and then Hastings in East Sussex with 6.56.
Eastbourne, Lincoln and the London suburb of Waltham Forest also recorded scores of just 6.57, 6.57 and 6.82 respectively.
The UK averaged 7.39 out of 10 for happiness, compared to 7.45 in 2021/2022. If we ignore the first year of the pandemic, the value is the lowest since 2013/2014.
Overall, 8.9 percent of people reported low levels of happiness – an increase from 8.5 percent last year.
Life satisfaction and sense of achievement also fell to 7.45 and 7.73 respectively, compared to 7.54 and 7.77 respectively in the year to March 2022.
Meanwhile, the fear level rose from 3.12 to 3.23. Excluding the year in which Covid struck, this is the highest value ever.
However, statistically significant changes were only observed in the measurements for England.
The lack of statistical significance in changes in devolved countries may be due to less data being collected, the ONS noted, concluding that its estimates were less certain.
The data shows that those who report low well-being are more likely to be in “very poor” health, have a disability, be divorced or have no qualifications.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
