How happy is the average Spaniard? What are the main concerns of the people in Spain? Which age group is the happiest? And how do Spaniards view the world?
The answers to these questions were published on July 24, 2024, in an article by El País. The Spanish newspaper reported the results of a study conducted by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) on happiness in Spanish society.
The article reveals that happiness is a realistic desire for many Spaniards. Nearly 90% of the population considers happiness important, and 80% actually claim to be happy. Moreover, many citizens believe they have a good life. In June, the CIS conducted an initial survey on happiness and social values. Of the remaining 20%, 11% of the Spanish population states they are not happy. The rest say it “depends”. According to Spaniards, the biggest threats to happiness lie in health problems and the economic situation.
Are you happy?
The happiest Spaniards are found among young people aged 18 to 24. In that age group, 86% of respondents say they are happy. The least happy group is those aged 74 and older, although a solid majority of 71% in this group still claims to be happy. The difference between Spanish men and women is small, with 82% of men and 79% of women reporting happiness.
“You can only be happy if those around you are happy too.”
It is known that Spaniards value good family ties. The well-being of family and friends is strongly linked to the experience of happiness. Most respondents (83%) say, “you can only be happy if those around you are happy too”.
When asked, “what would make you even happier,” almost 22% answered they would be happier if their health or that of loved ones improved. Also mentioned were improvements in relationships, different work, more free time, and even a different political climate in the country as factors contributing to greater happiness.
Spanish elders and relationships
Half of Spaniards find it not or hardly difficult to deal with significant problems in daily life. In contrast, over 41% claim the opposite. For those aged 74 and older, that figure rises to nearly 50%. According to the CIS, this group, along with 25- to 34-year-olds, is the only one that considers social relationships and family ties more important for their happiness than other factors, such as the economic situation.
How the Spaniard sees the world
Although Spain also faces polarisation, 91% of citizens agree with the statement that “you should always respect others opinions, even if they differ from your own.” Additionally, the population almost unanimously agrees that “all people have the right to choose freely what they want to be and how they want to live.”
A major theme in Spain is gender equality. Over 91% of respondents support “complete equality between men and women in all areas of life.” Notably, among respondents aged 18-24, 14% actually oppose this statement.
Politics and family
The CIS also asked about democracy. Slightly more than 15% of respondents strongly or somewhat disagreed with the statement, “democracy is preferable to any other form of government, always and under all circumstances.” Here too, the larger percentage of over 20% among the 18-24 age group stands out, disagreeing with this statement more than any other age group.
Other remarkable findings from the study include the open-mindedness of Spaniards regarding family formation. Nearly 90% believe that “besides marriage, there are many other acceptable forms of living together and interacting.” It is also noteworthy that 55% of respondents believe schools play an increasingly less important role in upbringing.