Belgians rated their life satisfaction a 7.6/10 in 2018, according to figures released by Belgium’s statistics office Statbel on Wednesday.
The figures come from a poll on revenue and living conditions. They show big differences in people’s well-being depending on the person’s financial situation. Statbel says Belgians who are comfortable financially are happier than those who are in a financially precarious situation.
Around 20.7% of people at risk of poverty generally or always feel very anxious, compared to 14.1% of Belgians not at risk of poverty.
11.7% of people who are struggling financially generally or always feel depressed, compared to 4.7% of Belgians who are not struggling.
The same is true for feeling calm. 51.5% of people at risk of poverty “generally or always” feel calm, compared to 65% of people not at risk of poverty. 14.4% of people at risk of poverty generally or always feel discouraged and gloomy, compared to 5.7% of people not at risk of poverty.
14.1% of people at risk of poverty generally or always feel lonely, compared to 5.1% of Belgians not at risk of poverty.
Finally, 13.1% of Belgians feel a high degree of social exclusion, but this rises to 23.6% for those at risk of poverty.
The Brussels Times
