About 73% Indians Claim To Be Happy: Ipsos Survey

At least 73 per cent (three in four citizens) claim to be happy in April 2023 and happiness levels have more or less stayed steady, with minor uptick or downtick over the last 5 months, according to the Ipsos IndiaBus Happiness survey. 

Ergo, Indians are a happy bunch of people. 

Interestingly, happiness is not just a state of mind. It is tangible and various aspects of life are the contributing factors. 

For instance, Indians claim to be most happy about their family (74  per cent), friends' circle (65  per cent), health (64  per cent) and neighbours (57  per cent). Comparatively lower happiness levels were seen towards economic/ financial condition (53  per cent), situation of the country (50  per cent) and situation of the world (45  per cent).      

"Post pandemic the hierarchy of happiness inducing priorities have undergone a bit of a rejig. Happiness is anchored around family, good health and a circle of friends, and these are the most happiness-inducing factors. Financial conditions, country's affairs and global matters come below in their priorities, though they also contribute to happiness. Man cannot be an island. All these factors impact how blissful citizens feel. To cite an example, war in Ukraine is impacting global economies, but citizens in India do not see direct harm coming to them given the distance between India and Ukraine. So, happiness levels are down but not hitting the bottom levels, for the situation of the world," says Parijat Chakraborty, Group Service Line Leader, Public Affairs & Corporate Reputation, Ipsos India. 

"Friends and neighbours have been upping the happiness quotient as citizens are going out more often socially and meeting friends and relatives for get-togethers, with the pandemic behind us, and interacting with their neighbours more. Some societies also have community get-togethers which has been breaking the ice," added Chakraborty. 

Those employed mentioned their work made them happy (62  per cent) and so did their colleagues and associates (61  per cent).