Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX

Germany is one of the happiest nations in the EU

90%

They’re stereotyped as frugal worriers, but 90% of Germans polled by the EU say they’re happy with their quality of life—despite Germany’s growing wealth gap.

Published   |  Photo by Reuters/Alex Grimm
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

The EU Commission on Justice, Education, Employment, and Health based its report on interviews with 28,031 people across the EU in December last year.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

Germany’s 90% happiness rate was well above the EU’s 83% average. That isn’t a major surprise, considering the nation’s juggernaut economy and low unemployment.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

Germany unemployment rate

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

Last week, the International Monetary Fund raised its economic-growth prediction for Germany to 2.5% for 2018—and last year, the country enjoyed its best year since 2011, expanding by 2.2%.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

But Germany also has a dangerously widening gap between the rich and poor. More than 90% of Germans said the divide is too big, and over 80% of EU citizens feel income disparity is a problem.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, Per Mertesacker, Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz and Lukas Podolski (L-R) pose with the World Cup trophy during celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory, at a 'fan mile' public viewing zone in Berlin July 15, 2014.  Germany's victorious soccer team led by coach Joachim Loew returned home on Tuesday after winning the 2014 Brazil World Cup. A triumphant Germany team landed in Berlin on Tuesday to a hero's welcome, greeted by hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans waving flags and wearing the national colours, revelling in the nation's fourth World Cup victory on Sunday in Brazil.          REUTERSAlex Grimm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP) - RTR3YRMX
90%

Good times aside, Germany is far from the happiest nation in the EU. That honor belongs to Ireland and Denmark, where 97% and 96% of citizens are leading the bloc’s happiness index.

home our picks popular latest obsessions search