Level of happiness in Turkey goes down in 2017: Survey

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Happiness level among all individuals in Turkey tallied 58 percent in 2017, slightly down from 61.3 percent in 2016, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) on Friday.

TurkStat life satisfaction survey results for 2017 revealed that more than five people out of 10 called themselves happy in Turkey.

In 2016, more than six people out of 10 described themselves as happy despite celebrity deaths, seismic political developments and the defeated coup of July 15.

In 2017, the percentage of unhappy individuals slightly increased to 11.1 percent from 10.4 percent.

Women were less happy in 2017 compared with 2016; the figure was 62.4 percent last year compared with 64.5 percent two years back.

Happiness rate for men in 2017 went down to 53.6 percent from 58.1 percent in previous year.

The happiest age group in 2017 was 65-year-old or older. However, in 2016 people aged 18-24 were the happiest ones.

In 2017, 45-54 bracket was the unhappiest.

Married people were happier than singles in 2017; 60.6 percent compared with 52.4 percent.

"When the level of happiness was analyzed by sex, it was seen that 65.2 percent of married females and 55.7 percent of married males were happy.", TurkStat said.

- Public security service happiest

The highest satisfaction level was seen in Turkish public security service in 2017; the rate tallied 74.4 percent and it was followed by transportation services with 72.3 percent. Health services came in third with 71.7 percent.

Social Security Institution services followed them with 62.5 percent, education services was in the fifth spot with 54.6 percent and judicial services came last with 54.1 percent.

Less educated people were happier, the poll added.

Happiness rate for individuals who didn't complete school was 62.5 percent in 2017.

"It was followed by primary school graduates with 57.7 percent, high school and equivalent graduates with 57.4 percent, higher education graduates with 56.9 percent, primary education or junior high school graduates with 56.1 percent, respectively," TurkStat said.

Families in Turkey made individuals happiest in 2017; the rate in this category was 70.6 percent.

"It was followed by children with 14.3 percent, spouse with 5.4 percent, parents with 3.2 percent and grandchildren with 1.9 percent, respectively," the poll said.

Health made people in Turkey happiest, the rate for health was 68 percent;. Love came second with 16.6 percent; success followed love with 9 percent. Money came in the fourth spot with 3.9 percent and work came last with 1.9 percent.

A slightly lower number of people were optimistic about the future compared with 2016 -- 73.4 percent in 2017 against 76.8 percent in 2016.

The survey covered all private households of Republic of Turkey having 18 years of age and over persons who are Turkish citizens and foreign people, however it didn't cover institutional population such as dormitories, rest homes for elderly persons, special hospitals, military barracks and recreation quarters for officers.