Health

Brits ‘suffered more than most’ in pandemic, says World Happiness Report

The UK dropped five places in global happiness rankings according to a survey of 149 countries

The UK had one of the most significant happiness decreases during the pandemic

Women and young people experienced the most "persistently bad deteriorations" of mental health during the Covid-19 crisis

Mental health has been “one of the casualties” of the Covid-19 crisis as the UK dropped five places down a ranking of the world’s happiest countries.

Countries with less income inequality and more trust in decision makers were more likely to record greater wellbeing rates, according to the World Happiness Report.

Despite the pandemic there was no global decline in people’s self-reported happiness on average, the figures showed, but the UK bucked that trend.

Researchers said the UK fell from 13th place in 2019 to 18th place in 2020, one of the most significant decreases of the 149 countries included on the index.

This has been a tough year for so many of us, and the World Happiness Report shows that the UK has suffered more than most when it comes to happiness,” said Dr Mark Williamson, CEO of charity Action for Happiness. 

“Policymakers should take this as an opportunity to centre human happiness and wellbeing as we recover from the pandemic so that we can build back happier. 

“The report also shows the importance of trust and community benevolence, which really means kindness and doing things for others. Not only do these things make us happier, but when it comes to Covid, they can save lives.”

Lockdowns have taken income away from hundreds of Big Issue sellers. Support The Big Issue and our vendors by signing up for a subscription.

Lower happiness rates correlated to more Covid-19 deaths, according to researchers, who cited the UK’s high pandemic death rate (108.4 per 100,000 people) and less trust nationally – both of other people and of the Government – as factors which likely contributed to the country’s poor wellbeing performance.

Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), published as part of the World Happiness Report, showed more than a fifth of the UK population experienced poor mental health in the first six months of the pandemic.

People with lots of friends and those who lost work during the crisis were more likely to struggle, the IFS report said, while people in strong romantic relationships were happier.

Women and young people were most likely to have faced “persistently bad deteriorations” in wellbeing during the pandemic, the research showed.

Finland came in top of the happiness list for the fourth year running, according to the report, trailed by Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The US rose from 18th place to 14th.

Around 1,000 people in each country were asked a series of questions about their happiness – such as how often they felt satisfaction about the previous day and how they would rate their quality of life – as well as about feelings of worry and sadness.

The annual survey is coordinated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network using surveys and data from the Gallup World Poll.

“Trust and having a sense of community and kindness really does matter,” said Richard Layard, a professor at the Centre for Economic Performance and co-author of the report.

 “They are the things that make us happy. And when it comes to health, better levels of trust and having women in power shows a significant correlation with fewer deaths from Covid.”

The report showed only moderate changes to the happiness ranking overall, reflecting a “widely shared resilience”.

“Given how all lives have been so importantly disrupted, it is remarkable that the averages are so stable,” researchers wrote.

The pandemic could push more people to speak openly about their mental health as a result of the pandemic, Action for Happiness said.

“The pandemic has made us take mental health and happiness more seriously,” said Vanessa King, head of psychology at the charity. 

“When we are struggling, sometimes the very act of doing one small thing can help us shift our mood. By learning what happiness is and taking simple daily actions to be happier, we can regain a sense of agency in our lives. We call this active coping. 

“Prioritising mental health and self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential.”

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
'Gin, pliers and brute force:' Dentists accuse Rishi Sunak of forcing Brits to pull their own teeth
Dental crisis

'Gin, pliers and brute force:' Dentists accuse Rishi Sunak of forcing Brits to pull their own teeth

Cost of living or Generation Snowflake? Boomers and Gen Z disagree on causes of youth mental health crisis
Mental health

Cost of living or Generation Snowflake? Boomers and Gen Z disagree on causes of youth mental health crisis

The Big Issue and Specsavers: A Visionary Partnership for Change
Sponsored post

The Big Issue and Specsavers: A Visionary Partnership for Change

Cost of living crisis sees more and more children seeking mental health help: 'I feel like a burden'
children
Mental health

Cost of living crisis sees more and more children seeking mental health help: 'I feel like a burden'

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know