Life satisfaction in MV at its lowest point: What makes us so unhappy?

Life satisfaction in MV at its lowest point: What makes us so unhappy?

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a federal state located on the Baltic Sea coast, is on the negative side of the Happiness Atlas 2025. Like that Northern Courier reports, MV has achieved the lowest life satisfaction in Germany with just 6.06 points, putting it in last place among all 16 federal states. In contrast, almost half of Germans feel generally happy, making the region's unfortunate situation all the more apparent.

The surveys show that life satisfaction in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania continues to decline. A total of 22.7 percent of the population are dissatisfied - a significantly higher figure than the national average of just 8 percent. Dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced among older men who live alone, low-income earners and city dwellers. As a result, cities such as Rostock, Greifswald and Schwerin are particularly affected.

Economic challenges

A look at the economic parameters shows that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has the lowest net income in Germany. The gross domestic product is also far down and pensions are below average. The MOZ highlights that the cost of living in the region is high and price increases for fuel, restaurant visits and other services are further exacerbating the situation. More and more people in MV cannot afford leisure activities and are hardly able to build up reserves.

In this way, high rents and an increasing emigration of young people shape the picture in the cities. The ownership rate is below the national average, which further contributes to dissatisfaction. In structurally weak regions, the population not only struggles with high unemployment, but also with an aging population that is often in need.

Comparison with other federal states

The results of the Happiness Atlas, published by the University of Freiburg in collaboration with the South German Class Lottery, show that the happiest people in Germany live in Hamburg (7.33 points), followed by Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate with 7.21 points each. The daily news adds that the differences between East and West Germany are becoming smaller, but the gap between Meklenburg-Western Pomerania and the other federal states remains serious.

An emotionally charged atmosphere accompanies the unfortunate circumstances, as many report frequent anger, fear and sadness. Older people, especially those aged 61 to 74, show lower levels of satisfaction compared to earlier years, due to inflation and feelings of loneliness. This shows that not only the material facts but also the emotional and social components play a role in MV.

In summary, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is facing numerous challenges that make it difficult to achieve a positive change in the population's life satisfaction. Even if the recovery after the corona pandemic is largely complete, external influences such as rising costs of living and social isolation are still noticeable.