Fifers the happiest Scots but Dundonians saddest

Bank of Scotland Happiness Index finds Fifers in fine fettle

Fifers are the happiest people in Scotland – and that’s official.

The region is top of the Happiness Index, knocking the Highlands from prime position into second place.

But while they are content in Cowdenbeath and satisfied in St Andrews, neighbouring Dundee is down in the dumps after the poll found people there are the least happy in the country.

The Happiness Index from the Bank of Scotland quantifies how happy Scots are in the communities they live in and found Fife has made a marked improvement in the last 12 months, jumping from a happiness score of +35.56 in 2015 to +56.56 this year.

In contrast, Dundee came out with a happiness score of just +31.01 this year, down from +44.3 in 2015 and more than 20 points below their southern friends.

A factor for the felicity in Fife could be that people there say they focus most on spending time with family and are also taking time to pursue hobbies and interests as well as progressing their career.

Overall, the poll found Scots are generally slightly happier than they were last year and women are again happier than men.

Happiness also appears to improve with age, with those aged over 65 happier than their younger counterparts, although there has been a slight dip in their score from +55.44 last year to +54.9 in 2016.

There is also no change in the fact that 18 to 24-year-olds are the least happy, with a score of +30.2, while the 25-34 age group is the second least happy.

And, perhaps not surprisingly, the Happiness Index found that money does not necessarily mean you are happy in the community you live in.

Those on a household income of £25,000 to £39,999 are the most happy in Scotland, although those on £60,000 or more and £40,000 to £59,999 are not far behind.

Rachel Bright, Bank of Scotland’s head of customer service, said: “We published the results from our first Happiness Index just over a year ago where the Highlands came out as Scotland’s happiest region.

“This year, Fife’s happiness score has increased over 20 points, putting them at the top of the Happiness Index and pushing the Highlands in to second place.”

So, if you want to find the country’s happiest person, look for a 65-year-old Fife woman.”

Picture: Steven Brown. Fife Provost Jim Leishman with pupils from Kirkton of Largo Primary School.