According to the data, Poland has one of the highest levels of overall life satisfaction in the EU with 78 per cent of Poles indicating they are happy.  This figure is significantly higher than the EU average which is 73 per cent. Moreover, Poland has one of the lowest rates of chronic depression in the EU. 

One of the elements that can explain these encouraging figures can probably be found in the low crime rate in the country and a general feeling of safety. As a matter of fact, Poland had one of the lowest levels of its citizens reporting crime, violence or vandalism in the EU with only 4.4 per cent of those surveyed reporting being affected.

When asked if they feel safe walking alone in the dark at night Poles felt the fourth safest in the EU. Better figures in this regard were collected only in Denmark, Finland and Slovenia. Only 2.2 per cent of Poles felt “very unsafe” in the above-mentioned situation. 

Another interesting element that deserves to be emphasised is the general feeling of belonging among the Polish population. Indeed, Poles report that they “have someone who they can contact in a time of need” with as much as 96.4 per cent of respondents having such a trusted person. Furthermore, nearly half of all surveyed Poles reported having a high level of satisfaction with their personal relationships. 

Poles have one of the longest work weeks in Europe, racking up on average 40.1 hours a week (the EU average being 37 hours a week). However, these figures don’t seem to affect their self-perceived physical health. In this matter, almost 60 per cent of respondents claimed that their health was either good or very good with less than 13 per cent saying it was bad.

Source: Eurostat

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen

Photos: Unsplash