Happiness Region Münsterland | SKL Happiness Atlas 2023
Happy in Münsterland
© Münsterland e.V./Philipp Fölting
Münsterland region of happiness

Happiness region Münsterland - Happiness Atlas 2023

Münsterland is one of the three happiest regions in Germany. Compared to all regions in North Rhine-Westphalia, people in Münsterland are even the happiest. This is shown by the SKL Happiness Atlas from 2023, with the Münsterland achieving a satisfactory score of 7.23 on a scale of 0 to 10 points. In Germany as a whole, life satisfaction in the measurement period (August 2022 - June 2023) was 6.92 points; before the coronavirus pandemic, it was 7.14 points.

To 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. The survey covered, for example, 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 is available at www.skl-gluecksatlas.de.

Results at a glance

Future Atlas 2022 General Map
© SKL

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. In 2023, Münsterland is the third happiest region in Germany with 7.23 points - just behind the happy regions of Bavaria South (7.23 points) and Holstein (7.36 points). North Rhine-Westphalia has a total of 7.00 points, while Germany as a whole has 6.92 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.

What Münsterland e.V. says about the study

Klaus Ehling Klaus Ehling
© Münsterland e.V./Anja Tiwisina
Klaus Ehling, Board of Münsterland e.V.

Of course, the measurement is only a guide, as happiness can only be measured to a limited extent. But the fact that the results of the Happiness Atlas confirm the claim of the Münsterland brand - 'MÜNSTERLAND. THE GOOD LIFE' - is something I am particularly pleased about.

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