THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germans are feeling more satisfied with life in 2024, according to the newly published Happiness Atlas 2024, a regular survey on the life satisfaction of inhabitants of the country.
The study reveals that life satisfaction has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, marking a significant improvement compared to last year. This year’s average life satisfaction score is 7.06 out of 10 – 0.14 points higher than in 2023.
The report, led by Professor Bernd Raffelhüschen of the University of Freiburg, attributes this upswing to a more stable economic outlook, higher wages and reduced inflation pressures.
While overall happiness is on the rise, disparities remain between Germany’s regions, with Hamburg topping the happiness rankings at 7.38 points. Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein follow closely with 7.23 points each. On the other hand, eastern states such as Saxony (6.72), Berlin (6.63) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (6.17) rank at the bottom, reflecting a persistent East-West divide in life satisfaction.
The differences reflect varying levels of economic development, employment opportunities and access to services.
The study, which indicated that German life satisfaction has returned to the level of the 2010s, attributes the overall rise in happiness to adolescents, young adults and working mothers, the groups that struggled most during the coronavirus pandemic, who reported significant gains.
Raffelhüschen notes that these improvements suggest Germany is “back on track for happiness,” with many individuals feeling more secure and content in their personal and professional lives
The Happiness Atlas 2024 gathered data from over 12,000 participants aged 16 and above between July 2023 and June 2024. The survey considered factors like healthcare access, economic stability and social support systems, which significantly influence happiness level.
Vivian Asamoah
