Brussels residents score highest in Belgian happiness study

Residents of the Brussels region score highest in Belgium in terms of happiness, according to the latest NN-UGent National Happiness Survey.

Overall, Belgians’ sense of happiness declined for the second year in a row with an average score of 6.53 out of 10, compared to 6.58 in 2025.

At the beginning of 2020, the average score was 6.73. After a temporary upturn until the beginning of 2024, a slight downward trend continues.

“We see that the general level of happiness remains fragile,” said Dr Sara Claes of Ghent University.

“After the pandemic, we saw a small recovery thanks to the power of social connectedness. The current economic and geopolitical uncertainties are putting pressure on the level of happiness again.

"Although wellbeing is personal, it’s not just an individual matter. The environment in which we live also determines how good we feel."

In terms of regions, residents of Brussels score the highest (6.62), followed by Flanders (6.61) and Wallonia (6.36).

For the first time in the survey’s history, pensioners are no longer happier than the working population.

There is also a big difference between people who are unemployed and unable to work and other groups. For example, happiness scores are lowest among Belgians who are unemployed (5.32) or unable to work (5.13).

According to the researchers, this is not only due to financial factors.

“People who are unemployed or unable to work mainly experience a lack of autonomy, feel less capable of doing something well, and struggle with a lack of meaning,” said Professor Lieven Annemans.

“This presents an important policy challenge, both in terms of reactivation and prevention.”

Ghent University has been conducting the anonymous NN-UGent Happiness Survey since 2017 in collaboration with life insurer NN. This year’s representative sample of 1,572 Belgians was surveyed in January.