Subjective well-being in EU countries: exploring economic and social drivers

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the role of economic factors in shaping subjective well-being across the countries of the European Union. The authors employed correlation analysis to examine the relationship between GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power parity) and the Happiness Index. The analysis was based on data from the World Happiness Report 2025 and GDP per capita (PPP) for the year 2024. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated, yielding a statistically significant result of r = 0.779. The findings indicate that GDP plays a substantial-though not exclusive-role in influencing individuals’ perceptions of happiness. The results support the hypothesis that economic factors are critical to subjective well-being only up to a certain threshold. Beyond this point, non-material dimensions-such as health, a sense of security, social connections, institutional trust, and other aspects of quality of life-become increasingly important. Thus, subjective well-being is a multifaceted construct that cannot be fully explained by economic indicators alone. Enhancing overall life satisfaction in society requires an integrated approach that takes into account both material and non-material factors.