75% Urban Indians Happier In November, Up 4% From Last Month: Survey

At least 3 in 4 urban Indians (75 per cent) claim to be happy – a 4 per cent increase from the previous month, The Ipsos IndiaBus Happiness Monitor of November 2023 showed

The report said that happiness has surged across all parameters used in the survey to gauge happiness.  

Who are the happiest?

Citizens residing in tier 1 towns are the happiest at 86per cent. Followed by tier 2 towns (77 per cent), tier 3 towns (72 per cent) and least happy were those living in the metros (68 per cent).   Retired/ military/ prefer not to answer citizens (80per cent) are the happiest, followed by full-time parents and homemakers (79per cent), self-employed (77per cent), students (74per cent), full/part-time employed (73 per cent) and the unemployed were least happy (53per cent). SEC A (79per cent) and SEC C (79 per cent) were happier than SEC B (70per cent). Those with low education (76per cent) were happier than those with high education (74per cent). Interestingly, citizens in west zone were happier (83 per cent) than those in the north zone (78 per cent). South zone (69per cent) and east zone (67per cent) were comparatively less happy – though both east zone and south zone have witnessed a double-digit increase in happiness levels over October 2023, of 16per cent and 11per cent respectively. Women were happier (78per cent) vis-à-vis men (73per cent). And students have seen a 5per cent drop in happiness in Nov, from the previous month.   

Biggest contributors to happiness – what makes Indians happy? 

Happiness is not just an emotion or a state of mind. The survey shows happiness manifests in different aspects of life. Across all our happiness waves, the family has been the biggest contributor to happiness and in the Nov wave as well, family is the biggest source of happiness (78per cent), followed by health (72 per cent), friends’ circle (67 per cent), employment/ work (67per cent), colleagues, business associates (65per cent), neighbours (63 per cent), economic/ financial conditions (57per cent), the situation of the country (55per cent) and situation of the world (51per cent).    

Elucidating on the findings of the Nov wave of the Happiness Monitor, Parijat Chakraborty, Group Service Line Leader, Public Affairs, Corporate Reputation, ESG and CSR, Ipsos India said, “Happiness levels have surged overall and across cities and demographics in November. From October end to mid-November, it was festival time which is a big mood booster. There are celebrations in the family, cities are decked up to radiate festive fervour, whether it is Durga Puja, Diwali, people wear their best clothes, bond with family and it is the time for shopping and family outings. Tier1 citizens are the happiest as they have the best of both worlds. Good jobs, income and recreation options of big cities, without the pressure of big cities or the higher cost of living of big cities (metros). Retired/ military & those preferring not to answer people are the happiest as they have the comforts of their savings and facilities abound, giving them enough personal time to relax and utilize the time to indulge in pursuits of leisure, likewise for full time parents and homemakers. Family remains the focal point of happiness for most Indians. Followed by health, friends, work etc. It is a package deal. Happiness is not just an emotion. It depends on several factors and disruption in one area can pull happiness levels down.”  

‘It will be good to see if Indians can sustain the current momentum of happiness to the next month,” added Chakraborty.