Article categories: News
The happiness of Vaasa residents has remained stable – good deeds improve wellbeing
Published: 19.3.2026
The 2025 Vaasa happiness survey reveals that residents’ happiness remains at a strong level. The current happiness score of Vaasa residents is 74.3 out of 100, compared to 74.5 a year ago. Five years ago, the score was 69.6, which indicates a clearly upward trend. In addition, optimism about the future is strong: when respondents were asked to estimate their own happiness five years from now, the score was 79.3. The City of Vaasa’s happiness survey has now been conducted for the sixth time, in collaboration with emeritus professor Markku Ojanen.
Based on the data, the wellbeing of Vaasa residents is built, above all else, on the basics of everyday life: close relationships, a positive outlook on life, and a sense of optimism for the future form a strong foundation which is reflected in the high happiness scores. Work and a sense of meaning in daily life are important sources of wellbeing for many, and the sense of safety in the city is strong. Exercise and physical activity clearly go hand in hand with happiness, and active participation in hobbies or associations increases wellbeing. Together, these factors create a whole that is reflected in the residents’ strong belief in the future and their ability to recover even from more difficult life circumstances.
The study also highlights that doing good deeds for others clearly increases one’s own happiness. Vaasa residents who participate in voluntary work and help others are noticeably happier than those who do not engage in voluntary work at all. According to the data, good deeds, a sense of community, and active engagement form one of the strongest sources of wellbeing.
– Happiness grows when a person feels they can give something to others. Even small, good deeds strengthen both the community and one’s own wellbeing, says Markku Ojanen.
Vaasa residents also view the city’s development positively: more than half believe Vaasa is moving in the right direction.
Concerns are also visible alongside wellbeing
Although the overall picture is positive and Vaasa residents are generally happy and hopeful, the study also highlights some clear concerns. According to the data, financial difficulties and experiences of injustice are the two factors most strongly affecting happiness. The happiness level of unemployed people is clearly lower than that of the rest of the population. People living alone also experience a lower sense of wellbeing than other groups.
– Overall, Vaasa is a happy city, but the study reminds us that not everyone is doing well. These phenomena are visible in concrete terms, for example in the slight rise in unemployment figures in Vaasa, which indicates that some residents are struggling financially and need support to cope, says Mayor Tomas Häyry.
According to Häyry, the city is continuously developing services and support, especially for those in the most vulnerable positions. He says that Vaasa aims to be a city where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a good everyday life. This requires cooperation between different actors, and the city intends to invest strongly in this according to its new strategy in the coming years.
– We need cooperation with businesses, organisations, and other communities so that the wellbeing and happiness in Vaasa can grow. Everyone can contribute to this work by strengthening the community spirit and helping others. One of the good things about doing good deeds is that they benefit both the person giving help and the one receiving it, Häyry explains.