Berlin life satisfaction is increasing – old problems remain!

Berlin life satisfaction is increasing – old problems remain!

In recent years, Berlin has experienced a remarkable development in life satisfaction. According to that Happiness Atlas 2025 The average life satisfaction in the capital is now 6.83 points. This represents an increase of 0.20 points compared to the previous year and a significant improvement of 0.63 points compared to the low point during the 2020/21 Corona pandemic. Despite this positive development, Berlin remains behind the German average in terms of life satisfaction, but the gap has narrowed. In 2025 this will still be 0.26 points.

But what led to these improvements? The corona pandemic has not only affected life satisfaction, but has also had a major impact on the mental health of the population. The CovSocial project researched the effects of the pandemic on the emotional well-being of Berliners. The results show that feelings of isolation and psychological stress during the various lockdowns led to a sharp decline in life satisfaction. Younger people and women in particular suffered from the restrictions.

The development of life satisfaction

The progress in life satisfaction is particularly clear when comparing with the years before the pandemic. In 2025, the gap to the numbers from 2019, the year before the massive restrictions, will only be 0.10 points. This deficit is a positive development that shows that Berlin has learned from the experiences of recent years. However, the proportion of people who are very dissatisfied remains significant, even if it has fallen.

In detail it can be seen that the part of the population that starts families in particular increased by 0.25 points. Middle-aged people (31-59 years) report a 🌟 improvement of 0.10 points, while young adults aged 16 to 30 give negative feedback of -0.57 points. In addition, people with low incomes are particularly dissatisfied, which could be due to the high rents and the low ownership rate of 16% in the city.

Mental health during the pandemic

The effects of the pandemic on mental states cannot be dismissed. A study of Robert Koch Institute illustrates that depressive and anxiety-related symptoms have increased significantly during the pandemic. In March 2022, 17% of the population reported noticeable symptoms, an alarming increase compared to previous years.

The feedback shows that despite increasing life satisfaction, the profound psychological stress caused by the pandemic-related restrictions has not yet completely subsided. Social cohesion in Berlin suffered as a result of the measures, and people often felt stressed or anxious. The younger generation in particular was under a lot of pressure.

Berlin's high rents and youth unemployment rate - which at 9.3% is the highest in Germany - contribute to ongoing discontent and could affect the city's quality of life. Future challenges remain, especially when it comes to the departure of satisfied citizens, which could further strain the city. It remains to be seen how life satisfaction will develop in the coming years.