Poles are more happy nowadays than under communism, shows a CBOS poll.

In 1988, just before the fall of communism in Poland, every fifth Pole considered themselves happy and almost the same amount felt that they lacked luck in life. Ten years after the democratic transformation in Poland, in 1999, the number of people who were satisfied with themselves and their life increased by 13 percentage points to 31 percent.

Since then Poles who are optimistic about life in Poland outnumber those who have opposite views.

In 2009, every third Pole (33 percent) claimed they were lucky (15-percentage-point growth) and every sixth (16 percent) unlucky (the same amount as in 1988). Most respondents (51 percent) said they feel happy or unhappy depending on circumstances.

Poles’ disposition also depends on their financial resources and family life. Among those who feel unhappy are: divorcees (38 percent), people whose living conditions are bad (36 percent), the poor (28 percent), uneducated people and pensioners (26 percent), the unemployed (24 percent) and farmers (22 percent). On the other hand, most parents are satisfied with their children (91 percent) and most spouses of their marriage (81 percent) – husbands more often than wives.

The survey was conducted between 2 and 9 December from a sample of 1046. (mg)