Despite the fifth year of the war, 71% of Ukrainians said they were happy

71% of Ukrainians consider themselves happy, even though the war has been going on for the fifth year. These are the results of a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS).

Respondents’ answers were distributed as follows:

• 31% of those surveyed said they are definitely happy;
• 40% chose the answer “rather yes than no”;
• 11% stated that they feel both happy and unhappy at the same time;
• 7% called themselves unhappy;
• 9% answered that they are rather unhappy.

Thus, 16% of respondents consider themselves unhappy or rather unhappy — about every sixth participant in the survey.

“Despite the war and the challenges, the majority of Ukrainians are happy, and only one in six feels unhappy,” emphasized the KIIS.

Sociologists note that factors that typically affect the feeling of happiness include a person’s age, financial situation, health, education, family relationships, and confidence in the future.

The indicator was also higher than in previous years. In December 2025, 69% of Ukrainians called themselves happy, and in December 2024 — only 58%.

The study was conducted by telephone interviews from 7 May to 3 June 2026 across all regions of Ukraine. The sampling statistical error does not exceed 2.8%.

Earlier we wrote:

• Why it’s so hard to ask for help, even when it is badly needed
• 82% believe in Ukraine’s victory, but only 22% expect the war to end by the end of the year
• Ukraine again at the bottom: in the global happiness ranking the country remained in 111th place
• Kim: Ukrainians who moved to the EU are not happy there
• The people are patient: 60% of Ukrainians are willing to endure the war “as long as necessary”