Economic uncertainty, wars, and rising costs haven’t managed to break Germany’s good mood. According to the Glücksatlas 2025, life satisfaction in the country remains remarkably stable. Nearly half of all Germans describe themselves as highly satisfied with their lives — a small but symbolic increase over last year.
On a 0-to-10 scale, respondents rated their overall satisfaction at 7.09 points, compared to 7.06 in 2024. It’s a modest improvement, but it shows resilience after years of crises.
“The life satisfaction of Germans has stabilised at a high level,” said Prof. Bernd Raffelhüschen, scientific director of the Glücksatlas and professor at the University of Freiburg. The annual report is published in cooperation with the Süddeutsche Klassenlotterie (SKL).
East–West happiness gap continues to shrink
The 2025 edition highlights one striking development: the traditional happiness divide between East and West Germany is closing further.
While western regions saw a small rise of +0.02 points, the eastern states improved by +0.12 points, the strongest gain in years. “The recovery after the pandemic is complete,” Raffelhüschen said. “People in the East are catching up in terms of life satisfaction.”
Still, most of the happiest regions remain in the old federal states. Hamburg once again leads the ranking with 7.33 points, followed by Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate (both 7.21), and North Rhine-Westphalia (7.19). At the bottom are Bremen (6.89), Berlin (6.83), Saarland (6.78), and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (6.06).
Where satisfaction declines: income and family life
Despite the overall positive picture, the report reveals clear areas of frustration.
Satisfaction with income dropped sharply — by 0.21 points to 6.60. This decline occurred exclusively among lower-income groups, widening the perceived gap between rich and poor. Researchers warn that this “subjective inequality” could weigh on the country’s social cohesion.
Family-related satisfaction also slipped. At 7.61 points, it remains below pre-pandemic levels (2016–2019). The reasons: fewer marriages and births, rising numbers of single-parent households and families caring for elderly relatives.
“These trends put emotional and financial strain on households,” the study notes.
Leisure satisfaction rebounds but doesn’t reach pre-crisis levels
After the pandemic’s restrictions, Germans report feeling freer to enjoy their time again. Yet satisfaction with leisure stands at 7.20 points, still below the highs of the 2010s.
Higher prices for leisure activities, increased screen time, and fewer in-person meetings with friends are cited as key reasons. “People have regained mobility but lost part of their social rhythm,” one researcher explained.
Germany is becoming more emotional
The 2025 survey identifies a cultural shift: Germans are expressing stronger emotions — both positive and negative.
According to the Allensbach and Ipsos institutes, 30 percent of respondents said they “often” or “very often” feel anger, up eight percentage points from two years earlier. Experiences of fear, anxiety, but also moments of happiness have all increased.
The authors interpret this as a sign of a more emotionally open society, but also as proof that daily stress, media overload, and global uncertainty are taking a psychological toll.
Methodology: two major national surveys
Between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 13,905 people aged 16 and older were interviewed by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research about their general life satisfaction.
In a second phase, 5,148 participants aged 18 and above were surveyed by Ipsos in June 2025 on specific areas such as work, income, family, and leisure.
Both datasets are considered representative of the German population.
Conclusion: content but concerned
The overall message of the Glücksatlas 2025 is one of stability mixed with unease. Germans remain broadly satisfied, yet many feel the strain of rising living costs, widening social gaps, and changing family structures.
Happiness in Germany may be holding steady — but it’s also becoming more fragile.
