Cyprus has emerged as a standout performer in the European Union’s latest life satisfaction survey, showing a marked improvement over the past decade.
According to recent Eurostat data, Cyprus saw the largest increase in life satisfaction among EU member states, with its score rising from 6.2 to 7.5 out of 10. This surge places Cyprus among the upper echelons of the bloc, where the average satisfaction level for citizens aged 16 and over stands at 7.3.
The Cypriot improvement comes as some traditionally high-scoring countries have seen their ratings slip. Denmark’s score fell from 8.0 to 7.5, while Sweden dropped from 7.9 to 7.5 over the same period.
Finland continues to lead the EU with a score of 7.8, followed closely by Belgium, Austria, Romania, and Slovenia, all at 7.7. At the other end of the spectrum, Bulgaria ranks lowest with a score of 5.9.
The survey, which simply asked respondents to rate their life satisfaction from 0 to 10, is part of broader EU efforts to measure citizens’ well-being.
The European Commission is working on a more comprehensive approach, identifying “8+1” criteria for assessing quality of life. These include material living conditions, employment, health, education, leisure, security, governance, living environment, and overall life experience.
This multifaceted approach aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of citizens’ well-being beyond traditional GDP measure.
