This week OECD relaunched their Better Life Index this week and provided data behind it.

I’ve applied multivariate statistical data analysis methods to average value and you can see results below. Quite interesting groups of countries had emerged.

X-axis separates countries by those with high Life satisfaction index vs those with low. Y axis separates countries by job availability.

• The most satisfied group of countries is within top right quadrant, having all highly developed countries.
• The least satisfied group of countries is in the bottom left quadrant of the plot with unemployment being the major factor contributing into their unsatisfaction. This is highest for Eastern European block which experienced economical difficulties in recent years.
• Countries at top left quadrant are less happy  than  those in the top right quadrant, but not by much. The major factors are high level of crime and long hard working hours. The least satisfied in this group is Turkey (farthest on the plot from Life Satisfaction Index).  Interestingly, Israel has one of the highest wealth and health indicators, lowest crime but at the same time long working hours and worse housing conditions.
• Countries in the center of the plot is where all indicators balance out. Level of life satisfaction for this group is in between the worse groups. It balanced out by not very high “positive” indicators such as wealth and health and not very high “negative” indicators such as unemployment and crime.
• Education does not seem to affect life satisfaction as much as other parameters. It is lowest for the group of countries in the left top quadrant and highest for the group in the right top quadrant but both these groups are quite satisfied with life.