Irish people are the happiest people in the European Union, a new survey has found.
According to a new Eurobarometer survey on fairness, inequality and inter-generational mobility, 97% of Irish respondents agreed that they consider themselves to be happy people.
This ranks Ireland the happiest out of all 28 EU states, with the average level being 83%, while Romania ranks the lowest at 59%.
The survey also found that almost eight in 10 Irish people (78%) think that most things that happen in life are fair, meaning we're the biggest bunch of optimists (or subscribers to Karma) given that the feeling is shared by an average of 53% respondents across the EU, while those in Greece were the least likely to agree at 26%.
Other findings from the survey include:
- 80% of Irish people agree that, at present, they have equal opportunities to get ahead in life, while the EU average is 58%, and only Denmark and Sweden rank higher with 81% each.
- On whether these opportunities are better than they were 30 years ago, 74% of Irish people were likely to agree, while the EU average was 46%. France was 22% and Greece was 21%.
- Irish people are also the most likely to agree, at 92%, that they are in good health, while the EU average was 78%.
- 75% of Irish people felt most people could be trusted in their country, which is a drop to 4th place after Finland (85%), Denmark (82%) and Sweden (76%), while the EU average was 47% and Slovakia was 23%.
- 79% of Irish people think the difference in people's incomes is too great, which falls below the EU average of 84%.
- 56% of Irish people agree that coming from a wealthy family is essential or important, below the EU average of 64%.
- 55% of Irish people think having political connections is essential or important, just below the EU average of 56%.
- 55% of Irish people think that being born a man or a woman is essential or important, which is the fourth highest in the EU after Hungary (68%), Austria (67%) and Italy (62%). The EU average was 46%.
Over 1,000 people in Ireland were interviewed for the survey back in December 2017, while a total of 28,031 people were interviewed across all 28 EU member states.
