People living with a partner are happier

Approximately 9 in 10 adults in the Netherlands feel happy. This applies in particular to people living together with a partner.

Singles happier with than without children

In the period 2008-2010, more than 80 percent of people without a partner stated they were happy versus 92 percent of persons living with a partner. The presence or absence of children is irrelevant if there is a partner, but single parents are more often happy (85 percent) than singles without children living at home (77 percent).

Happy adults with and without partners by children living at home, 2008/2010

45 to 65-year-olds happier with partner

People in the age category 18-25 are on average just as happy with as without a partner. Adults older than 25 are happier with than without a partner. The difference is most obvious in the 45 to 65-year-old population: 21 percentage points. This is due to the fact that 45 to 65-year-olds without a partner are less often happy than their counterparts in other age categories.

Happy adults with and without partners by age, 2008/2010

Low-educated people more often happy with a partner

The proportion of happy people is marginally lower among low-educated people than among people educated at secondary level or higher. For low-educated people, happiness in life is more closely related to having a partner than for individuals educated at secondary level and higher. The difference for lower educated people is more than 13 percentage points versus more than 10 percentage points for secondary and higher educated.

Happy adults with and without partners by level of education, 2008/2010

Paul de Winden and Jacqueline van Beuningen