SOUTH Africa ranks among the world’s most romantically content nations, but a new Ipsos Love Life Satisfaction survey shows Gen Z is the country’s unhappiest group.

The survey, conducted across 29 countries, found only 71% of Gen Z South Africans report being happy, compared with 78% of both Gen X and Baby Boomers. They are also slightly less happy than Gen Z globally, where 73% report happiness.

ALSO READ: Save the dates for upcoming NG Kerk events

Young women appear to be the most affected, with only 66% reporting happiness, compared with 78% of Gen Z men.

Financial pressure is a major contributing factor, with 67% of unhappy Gen Z respondents citing their financial situation, higher than the global average of 53%.

“These findings should concern us all,” said Natalie Otte, country manager at Ipsos in South Africa.

“While South Africa generally outperforms on happiness metrics, our youngest adults are struggling.”

Otte said Gen Z faces a ‘perfect storm of economic uncertainty, social media pressures, and a post-pandemic world’.

“What differentiates Gen Z’s unhappiness is the existential dimension. Nearly a quarter feel their life lacks meaning, and a similar proportion feel they’ve lost control over their own lives,” she added.

Despite this, 83% of Gen Z South Africans say they feel loved, higher than the global figure of 76%.

Don’t have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here:

HAVE YOUR SAY