Fermanagh and Omagh 'happiest place to live in the UK'

Updated

The happiest place to live in the UK is in Northern Ireland while Derbyshire is the least contented, according to national well-being figures.

A study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found people living in Fermanagh and Omagh rated themselves the happiest on a scale of zero to 10.

Residents said they were 8.3 when asked: "Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday? Where 0 is 'not at all happy' and 10 is 'completely happy'."

Bolsover in Derbyshire came lowest in the happiness, worthiness and life satisfaction categories.

Pendle in Lancashire is the most anxious place to live, with people rating themselves 3.6 when asked: "Overall, how anxious did you feel yesterday?"

Glenn Everett, ONS director of well-being, said: "We often talk of how the country is doing, usually in economic terms.

"Today's figures address how people are feeling about their lives.

"Overall, people are generally rating their lives higher than they did four years ago.

"But what is interesting is that they show a slight growth in inequality between people rating their lives highly and those reporting low levels of personal well-being.

"In other words, a growing inequality that policy makers need to consider."

Eilean Siar, in the Outer Hebrides, is the best place to live for life satisfaction and was also in the top five for happiness and worthiness.

West Somerset came top when people living in the area were asked: "What extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?"

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