County ‘happy’ divide New govt figures

People in South Lanarkshire are happier than those living in North Lanarkshire – according to the Westminster government.

The results of a national happiness survey were just released this week.

And residents in South Lanarkshire rated their mood as 7.46 out of 10, while those in the north gave themselves 7.27 out of 10.

North Lanarkshire are tied fourth from the bottom of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, with Clackmannanshire and West Dunbartonshire, just ahead of Glasgow City (7.22), Falkirk (7.19) and Dundee City (7.19).

South Lanarkshire placed 15th on the list.

The Scottish average for happiness was 7.43 out of 10.

The data was collected by the Office for National Statistics in the year to the end of September 2016 – meaning it included the runup to, and fall-out from, the EU referendum.

The government report measures “estimates of life satisfaction, whether you feel the things you do in life are worthwhile, happiness and anxiety” by asking a series of personal well-being questions.

Matthew Steel, from the Office for National Statistics, said: “At a time when economic measures are generally improving, this is not necessarily reflected in how people tell us they are feeling about their lives.

“Whilst it is too early to say why anxiety ratings have increased slightly and why life satisfaction, happiness and worthwhile ratings have levelled off in the past 12 months, we know from our previous research that factors impacting most on people’s personal wellbeing include health, work situation and relationship status. ”