Finns' experiences of wellbeing have significantly deteriorated since 2020, according to an inequality report published on Tuesday by the Kalevi Sorsa foundation, a Social Democratic Party-linked think tank.
For decades, Finns have reported high levels of general life satisfaction. However, the study links the recent decline to the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the subsequent increase in living costs.
The report also argues that social mobility has weakened in Finland.
In 2016, some 82 percent of respondents reported feeling content either frequently or most of the time. By the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, that figure had dropped to just 57 percent.
The decline in happiness and life satisfaction has occurred across all demographic groups, according to the report, with the most significant decrease observed among young people — a trend observed in several studies.
"Young people's distress has to be taken seriously. It may lead to the compounding of various problems that are increasingly difficult and expensive to address," foundation researcher Markus Laaninen said in a press release.
The report delving into inequality in Finland was compiled by a group of 15 researchers.
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