A new report has revealed that East and North Ayrshire residents are amongst the unhappiest in Scotland.
New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has offered insight into feelings of happiness, life satisfaction, and anxiety across different areas across the country, from the Shetland Islands to Ayrshire.
The ONS’ latest edition of its happiness report uses data from the Annual Population Survey to estimate life satisfaction, happiness, anxiety, and the feeling that things done in life are worthwhile at both a nationwide and local level.
At the bottom of the ‘happiness’ list was North Ayrshire at number 32, reporting a happiness average of 6.99 out of 10.
East Ayrshire came in at number 30 with an average of 7.12, while South Ayrshire recorded an average of 7.18 at number 24 on the list.
Happiness levels were highest in Na h-Eileanan Siar, Shetland, and Orkney with 8.05, 8.03 and 7.85, respectively.
Average ratings for ‘life satisfaction’ improved for England, Wales and Northern Ireland compared with the previous year, however, the increase in Scotland was “not statistically significant”.
North Ayrshire ranked the lowest for ‘life satisfaction’ with a score of 7.16, and was second from bottom on ‘the feeling that things done in life are worthwhile’ with an average of 7.45, in front of Glasgow City at 7.37.
South Ayrshire has the highest average levels of anxiety according to the ONS data, with an average of 3.59.
North and East Ayrshire were fifth and seventh highest on the list for anxiety with averages of 3.32 and 3.30, respectively.
The full statistical report can be viewed on the Office for National Statistics website.
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