"Happiness atlas": Saxony as happy as before the pandemic

Income remains weak point

According to the report, income satisfaction in Saxony is significantly below the national average. According to the authors, one of the reasons for this is that the annual disposable income in Saxony is around 2,000 euros lower than in the rest of Germany.

"The situation is even worse in terms of wealth: For example, the home ownership rate in Saxony is 34.7 percent, compared to 45.9 percent in neighboring Bavaria," the report states.

Well-being through family

In other areas, however, the Saxons are ahead: satisfaction with family is higher than the national average - "and this despite declining birth rates, which are normally associated with lower family satisfaction." According to the study, Saxons are also more satisfied with their work than the average German.

"Overall, subjectively perceived life satisfaction is largely in line with the level that can be expected from objectively measurable quality of life factors," the authors conclude.

In the current nationwide comparison, Saxony ranks 12th and is below the national average (7.09 points). Hamburg is ahead with 7.33 points, while Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania brings up the rear with 6.06 points.

Who was surveyed

For the "Glücksatlas" 2025, a total of 13,905 people aged 16 and over were surveyed by the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research from July 2024 to June 2025 on their general life satisfaction. In June 2025, the market and social research institute Ipsos surveyed a total of 5,148 citizens aged 18 and over on the areas of work, income, family and leisure. According to the institute, the results are representative of these population groups.

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