By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Nine in 10 Filipinos are considering their life either very or fairly happy these days, but the number is fewer compared to a year ago, based on the fourth quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
Boneless bangus are prepared and grilled to perfection at a Malimgas Market stall in Dagupan City, and are sought after by locals and tourists alike. (JOJO RIÑOZA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In the nationwide survey conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018 among 1,440 respondents, SWS found 87 percent assessing their life in general as happy, with 39 percent of them very happy, and 48 percent fairly happy.
Meanwhile, 11 percent said they are not very happy, and 2 percent said not at all happy.
The respondents were particularly asked, “if you were to consider your life in general these days, how happy or unhappy would you say you are on the whole?”
SWS said the resulting happiness score of 87 percent (percent very happy and percent fairly happy combined) is a seven-point decline from the record-high 94 percent in December 2017.
This is the lowest in four years, since the 85 percent in December 2014.
Meanwhile, the unhappiness score of 13 percent (percent not very happy and percent not at all happy combined) in December 2018 is the highest since the 15 percent in December 2014.
Happiness was highest in Mindanao, at 89 percent, down from 96 percent in December 2017, and in Visayas, at 89 percent, down from 94 percent.
It is followed by the rest of Luzon, at 86 percent, down from 95 percent, and Metro Manila, at 82 percent, down from 90 percent.
Unhappiness, meanwhile, was highest in Metro Manila at 17 percent, up from 10 percent in December 2017, followed by the rest of Luzon at 14 percent, up from 5 percent, Visayas at 11 percent, up from 6 percent, and Mindanao at 11 percent, up from 4 percent.
Happiness was high regardless of religion, SWS said.
It was highest among Iglesia ni Cristo members, at 96 percent from 93 percent in December 2017, followed by other Christian denominations, at 94 percent from 93 percent, Catholics at 86 percent from 94 percent, and Muslims at 83 percent from 93 percent.
The December 2018 survey also found 82 percent either very or fairly satisfied with the lives they lead, the lowest since the 79 percent in September 2014.
The respondents were particularly asked, “on the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the life you lead?
Thirty-four percent answered very satisfied, 48 percent said fairly satisfied, 14 percent said not very satisfied, and 3 percent said not at all satisfied.
SWS pointed out that the new satisfaction with life score of 82 percent (percent very satisfied and percent fairly satisfied) is a 10-point decline from the record-high 92 percent in December 2017.
This is the lowest in over four years, since the 79 percent in September 2014.
Meanwhile, the dissatisfaction with life score of 18 percent (percent not very satisfied and percent not at all satisfied) in December 2018 is the highest since the 21 percent in September 2014.
Satisfaction with life was highest in Visayas at 83 percent in December 2018 from 89 percent in December 2017.
It is followed by Metro Manila at 81 percent from 93 percent, and Mindanao at 80 percent from 91 percent.
Dissatisfaction with life was highest in Mindanao, at 20 percent from 9 percent in December 2017, followed by Metro Manila at 19 percent from 7 percent, Visayas at 17 percent from 11 percent, and rest of Luzon at 17 percent from 6 percent.
By class, satisfaction with life was highest in class ABC at 92 percent, same as in December 2017.
Satisfaction with life was equally high across religion, but all with lower scores in December 2018 compared to a year ago.
It was highest among Iglesia ni Cristos at 89 percent from 94 percent, followed by other Christians at 86 percent from 90 percent, Catholics at 81 percent from 92 percent, and Muslims at 81 percent from 96 percent.