Brits’ levels of happiness is down while anxiety is on the rise

OUR sense of wellbeing is on the slide — but it’s still better than during the pandemic, a survey says.

Scores out of ten for happiness, life satisfaction and things being worthwhile are down, while anxiety has risen.

Details emerged in the Office for National Statistics’ annual population survey of over-16s.

Average life satisfaction in the year to this March was 7.45 — down from 7.54 in the previous year.

In 2020/21 — Covid’s first year — it was 7.39, and 7.66 the year before.

The same pattern, and similar scores, was repeated for happiness and if people think life worthwhile.

Average anxiety score was 3.23 last year, up from 3.12 in 2021/22.

It was higher during the pandemic but lower before it.

London and the urban East Midlands scored worst for life satisfaction last year and the capital for things being worthwhile.

Urban East Midlanders were least happy.

The rural West Midlands scored best for all three.

Londoners, and those in the North West, were most anxious and urban East Midlanders were the least troubled.