Single People Are the Happiest in Indonesia

Based on a survey by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), unmarried or single people have a happiness index of 71.53. This figure is higher than that of people with other marital statuses. Married people have a happiness index of 71.09, while those widowed have 68.37, and those divorced have the lowest index at 67.83. "Unmarried people are happier. The least happy are those who are divorced," said BPS Head Suhariyanto.

Generally, this survey shows that Indonesians are quite happy, with an index of 70.69 on a scale of 0-100. The method of measuring the 2017 happiness index has changed compared to the last survey in 2014. In 2014, the happiness index only measured using the dimension of life satisfaction. In 2017, it was expanded to include the dimensions of feelings and the meaning of life.

Suhariyanto added that measuring the happiness index in society is very important. This also serves as one of the government's considerations in development. National development is not only measured by economic scales, but the psychological factors of the community must also be considered.