Research Finds Kassel as the City with Highest Level of Happiness
Happiest Cities in Germany: Kassel Reigns Supreme, Once Again
It's a repeat win for Kassel, as Germany's city dwellers crown it the happiest among the largest cities, according to the South German Class Lottery's (SKL) "Happiness Atlas." Kassel, nestled in northern Hesse, tops the ranking of 40 cities with over 200,000 inhabitants, much like it did in 2024.
Krefeld and Düsseldorf trail closely in 2nd and 3rd place, whereas Erfurt and Aachen slip down from 2nd and 3rd to 6th and 5th, respectively. The unfortunate bottom spot goes to Rostock, yet again.
City Size vs Life Satisfaction
To no one's surprise, the survey reveals that a larger city means a lower overall life satisfaction for residents. Interestingly, the top ten happiest cities feature only Düsseldorf and Hamburg among the ten largest German cities, while smaller cities like Augsburg, Aachen, and Münster grace the list. Unsurprisingly, metropolises like Munich, Frankfurt am Main, and Berlin rank lower, in 27th, 35th, and 37th place, respectively.
According to Bernd Raffelhuschen of the University of Freiburg, responsible for the city ranking in 2025, a balanced distribution of satisfaction is vital for achieving high life happiness in large cities. In cities like Frankfurt am Main and Rostock, there's a significant gap between those who are very satisfied and those who are strongly dissatisfied.
Smaller cities sweeten the deal with factors ranging from a student-dominated environment, a youthful population, abundant green spaces, and excellent medical care. However, these cities tend to score only slightly above average in objectively measurable areas such as infrastructure, education, and culture.
The Institute for Demoscopy Allensbach conducted a comprehensive survey of 23,468 residents aged 16 to 78 between January 2022 and April 2025 for evaluation.
Positive Trend Overall
There's an optimistic shift observed compared to the previous year, with the SKL partially attributing this progress to the 2024 survey still incorporating data from the corona year 2021. The city ranking focused primarily on the comparison between residents' perceived life satisfaction and objectively measured quality of life. Factors like housing, demographics, prosperity, and environmental quality were considered.
Factors Contributing to Higher Life Satisfaction
- Sense of Community: Smaller cities foster stronger bonds among residents, providing a sense of belonging and support, which bolsters overall life satisfaction.
- Quality of Life: Cities like Dublin, Ohio, prioritize metrics such as neighborhood satisfaction, public parks, and recreational opportunities. Smaller cities often excel in these areas, enhancing residents' overall satisfaction.
- Economic and Environmental Factors: Small cities may provide a more manageable cost of living and a cleaner environment, contributing positively to residents' happiness.
- Accessibility: While larger cities offer an extensive range of services and cultural activities, smaller cities make them more accessible and personalized, boosting residents' satisfaction.
- Ease of Navigation and Transportation: Smaller cities typically boast less traffic congestion and easier travel, making daily life more convenient and less stressful for residents.
- Psychological Factors: Geographical psychology suggests that individuals who value close relationships and a calm living environment may feel more satisfied in smaller cities.
Comparison with Larger Cities:- Larger Cities: These cities often provide a plethora of career, educational, and entertainment opportunities, drawing in those who cherish diversity and excitement. However, they could be characterized by higher costs of living, more congestion, and less community connection, negatively affecting some residents' satisfaction.
In the context of the Happiness Atlas, smaller German cities like Kassel, Augsburg, Aachen, and Münster, which prioritize community, quality of life, and psychological factors, often score higher in life satisfaction compared to larger cities like Munich, Frankfurt am Main, and Berlin. Moreover, evidence from studies, such as those conducted by the Institute for Demoscopy Allensbach, suggests that mental health, a vital aspect of health-and-wellness, is positively impacted by a balanced distribution of satisfaction in cities and a stronger sense of community, which benefits residents in smaller cities. Science further supports this connection, indicating that mental health is crucial for overall health-and-wellness.
