81% of Filipinos satisfied with life

Despite the persistence of high poverty rates in the country, at least four in every five adult Filipinos, or 81 percent, said they were satisfied with their life in December last year, a survey found.

Results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that those content with their life included 33 percent who said they were “very satisfied” and 48 percent who were “fairly satisfied.”

The survey, conducted on Dec. 8 to 11, asked 1,200 adults nationwide the question, “On the whole, are you very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied, or not at all satisfied with the life you are experiencing?”

Satisfaction with one’s life last December was an improvement over the levels in March last year, when 76 percent said they were satisfied, consisting of 31 percent who were “very satisfied” and 45 percent who were “fairly satisfied.”

Only one in five Filipinos, or 20 percent, five months ago were left wanting—down from 24 percent in March 2012.

The SWS has conducted life satisfaction surveys 19 times since June 2002.

Record high

Under the Aquino administration, life satisfaction ratings hovered between 76 percent and 86 percent, the survey’s record high in December 2011.

The survey’s lowest life satisfaction rating was at 61 percent in September 2002 and November 2003.

In the survey last December, life satisfaction was highest in Luzon outside Manila (84 percent), followed by the Visayas (82 percent), Metro Manila (82 percent) and Mindanao (71 percent).

By economic group, life satisfaction was highest among Class ABC (94 percent), followed by Class D (82 percent) and Class E (74 percent).

Bullish on economy

Satisfaction was greater in urban areas (84 percent) than in rural areas (78 percent). It was also higher among those who finished college (88 percent) than among elementary school and non-elementary school graduates (both at 76 percent).

Satisfied Filipinos were also optimistic with their personal life and the economic outlook of the country in the next 12 months, according to SWS.

Forty-five percent of those “very satisfied” were expecting a better life this year, compared with 35 percent among those “fairly satisfied,” 33 percent among those “not very satisfied” and 25 percent of those “not at all satisfied.”

Those who were bullish on the economy included 40 percent of those “very satisfied,” 30 percent of those “fairly satisfied,” 29 percent of those “not at all satisfied” and 25 percent of those “not very satisfied.”

The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.—Inquirer Research