Happiness region Münsterland - Happiness Atlas 2025

Münsterland is one of the happiest regions in Germany. This is shown by the SKL Happiness Atlas from 2025. With a value of 7.15 on a scale of 0 to 10 points, Münsterland has once again achieved a satisfactory value. In Germany as a whole, life satisfaction in the measurement period (February - July 2023) was 7.09 points. Compared to the previous year (7.06 points), life satisfaction in Germany has only increased slightly.

About the happiness atlas

The Happiness Atlas is the most up-to-date regular study on life satisfaction in Germany. SKL (Süddeutsche Klassenlotterie) has been a partner of the Happiness Atlas since 2023; until the end of 2021, it was published by Deutsche Post. Prof Bernd Raffelhüschen from the University of Freiburg is the scientific director. For example, respondents were asked about their satisfaction in the areas of work, income, family and health, as well as the impact of inflation and the war in Ukraine. Further information on the study can be found at www.skl-gluecksatlas.de.

Happy on an alpaca hike in Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V./R. Dombrowski
Exercise makes you happy: Münsterlanders love cycling
© Münsterland e.V./Anja Tiwisina
Münster is home to a particularly large number of young and happy people
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting
Families with children are in good hands in the region
© Münsterland e.V./R. Dombrowski
Picnicking is a way of life here - and makes you happy
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting
The Münsterland has a rosy future ahead of it
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting

Results at a glance

A closer look at 32 regions in Germany reveals major differences in happiness between the federal states. The regions marked in dark blue are particularly happy, while the regions marked in light blue are less happy(see map here). In 2025, Münsterland is one of the happier regions in Germany with a score of 7.15 points. North Rhine-Westphalia has a total of 7.19 points, putting it in fourth place in the federal state ranking. The average life satisfaction in Germany as a whole is 7.09 points in 2025.

Incidentally, Münster is in 7th place in the ranking for the happiest city with 7.24 points.

Why people in Münsterland are so satisfied

  • A good location influences the leisure options: The North Sea is not far away to the north, the Ruhr region with all its major cities to the south and the Netherlands offers international flair to the west.
  • High leisure and recreational value in the countryside or in nature as well as many cycle paths and bridleways.
  • A good standard of living with a medium income and a high home ownership rate. In the district of Warendorf, for example, the home ownership rate is 54.4 per cent, compared to just 41 to 44 per cent in the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
  • A young, happy population. On average, Münsterlanders are 43 years old - exactly one year younger than the national average. In addition, there is a high proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds in the university city of Münster.
  • Münsterland also has a strong SME and innovative economy. According to a recent Prognos study, it is one of the future regions of Germany.
  • For years, the Münsterland has had the lowest unemployment rate in the whole of North Rhine-Westphalia.

More about the Münsterland region of happiness