The "World Happiness Report" published by the United Nations (UN) last week, as every year, indicates the progress of the world, and at the same time Lithuania, towards happiness. In the general report, Lithuania moved up one step to a record high - 19th place. For comparison, ten years ago, we were in 71st place.
We surpassed not only other Baltic neighbors, but also countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom or even the United States of America. In the United Nations report, Lithuania is named as a country that has made one of the greatest progress towards happiness. However, one surprise this year was the happiness index among different age groups that appeared in the UN report.
Lithuanian youth are the happiest in the world
This year, unlike before, in the report published by the UN, it is possible to see not only the overall happiness index in the country, but also its values among different age groups - the youth (inhabitants under 30 years old), the elderly (those who are over 60 years old) and, finally, those population that falls between these two groups.
Countries and age groups are ranked based on residents' self-evaluations of life across six components - economy, social support and cohesion, years of healthy life, freedom of choice, generosity and level of corruption.
While all age groups have seen marked progress toward happiness, one group has stood out not only domestically, but globally. These are young residents of Lithuania. According to their happiness ratings, they are the happiest in the entire world. By comparison, senior citizens ranked only 44th in terms of happiness in the report. This shows that the progress towards happiness in the country was mainly determined by the increased happiness of the youth.
Where does that youth happiness come from?
A natural question arises, how is it possible that young residents in Lithuania feel so happy? It is true that, in general, there is a noticeable trend that young people tend to be somewhat happier than older people. However, this is definitely not a rule. For example, in Scandinavian countries, older people report being happier than younger people. Developed social security, decent pensions and available savings often mean fewer worries and greater opportunities than young people who are just starting their careers and are often burdened with debt. The latter are named as the least happy in the Scandinavian countries.
More than one argument can be found to explain the happiness of Lithuanian youth. Despite our tendency to often criticize the education system, young people in our country have ample opportunities to pursue free higher education without incurring significant financial obligations. For example, in the United States, about half of all undergraduate students have more than 25. study loan amounting to EUR.
Another reason is less competition to get the education you want. For example, in a large part of Asian countries, as well as in North America, the competition to get not only free higher education, but also to enter a university in general is much higher. This leads not only to great stress, but also to possible disappointment if the desired goals cannot be achieved.
Young Lithuanian residents have better opportunities to purchase housing than Scandinavian or Western European youth. Despite the fact that House In recent years, prices in Lithuania have increased, and wage growth has been faster. Moreover, 36 percent the salaries of young residents in Lithuania are higher than the national average salary. For comparison, there are 40 percent of such people in the 59-35 age group. Thus, young people's earnings are almost the same as workers who have spent 20 years in the labor market. In this place, young residents are saved not only by the necessary digital skills, but also by knowledge of the English language, and often greater confidence in their own abilities.
Meanwhile, the older population is more often disappointed not only by the lack of income, but also by the still relatively short healthy life expectancy. The healthy life expectancy of men in Lithuania is about 55 years, women - almost 60 years. In comparison, in Sweden both women and men have a healthy life expectancy of almost 70 years.
Let's not underestimate the immeasurable with money
The example of the youth only reminds us once again that having more money will not always bring the much-desired feeling of happiness. And although more than a third of the young population earns more than the average salary, they are just starting their careers and have very little savings.
Thus, the social support and cohesion of the population remains the no less important aspects that determine the level of happiness, which, according to the UN, helps people remain more resilient in the face of natural disasters, economic or geopolitical crises. It is not measured by social benefits or guarantees given by the state, but by the trust of the population in their relatives and institutions. There are always those who will help in difficult times.
It is also important that residents are given a lot of freedom and opportunities to make personal decisions, and that the least possible manifestations of discrimination are recorded. Healthy life expectancy, generosity, and corruption awareness are also important components of our happiness.
It seems that the transformation of the perception of happiness is taking place in Lithuania as well, where as economic development grows, things that cannot be measured in money gain more and more weight.
The author of the comment is "Swedbankeconomist Greta Ilekytė.
ELTA (ELTA)
