Comparison of 40 German Cities Reveals Unexpected Leader - This metropolis brings the most joy to its residents.
The SKL Happiness Atlas 2024 reveals: Smaller cities in Germany are where people are most content. Leading the pack is the north Hessian city of Kassel, earning the top spot with a 7.38 life satisfaction score.
Next in line are Erfurt, Aachen, Kiel, Krefeld, and Münster. The study examined the satisfaction levels of 40 major cities with over 200,000 residents. Rostock brought up the rear with a mere 6.36 points. Even the capital couldn't Keep up; Berlin ended up 37th.
Money doesn't always bring happiness
More than 25,500 individuals took part in the survey from January 2021 to April 2024. Surprisingly, the leading cities scored only slightly above average in terms of quality of life measures including income, infrastructure, and economic power. The first cities with high average incomes didn't appear in the ranking until the seventh spot with Augsburg and the eighth spot with Düsseldorf.
What truly contributes to personal happiness? A cozy vibe, tranquility, a predominantly student-oriented environment, plenty of green spaces, and good air quality. Over half of the residents in Kassel, a whopping 55.3%, claimed to be extremely satisfied with their lives. In comparison, the average happiness level of the 40 bigger cities was a mere 41.8%.
Major cities like Stuttgart (rank 14) and Munich (rank 24) have excellent quality of life with substantial incomes and low unemployment. However, survey data suggests that their inhabitants are only somewhat content. The culprits include problematic neighborhoods, elevated crime rates, social detachment, stuffed infrastructures, and overburdened housing markets.
To have a fulfilling life, family and educational policies, adequate kindergarten and elementary school spots are paramount. A bigger GDP, more culture and leisure, or improved transport infrastructure hold less significance.
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Source: symclub.org
