Market Analysis
Deutsche Post Happiness Atlas 2015
Happiness Atlas 2015: Berlin ranks in the bottom third for housing satisfaction
The 2015 Happiness Atlas places Berlin 13th out of 19 German regions. The capital scores particularly poorly in the housing category. A look at the data and its limitations.
Peter Guthmann
Deutsche Post has published the 2015 Happiness Atlas. Berlin lands in 13th place out of 19 German regions. In the categories of quality of life and housing, the capital also ranks in the bottom third. Schleswig-Holstein tops the ranking, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern comes last.
Housing as a weak spot
The low satisfaction with housing stands out. Berlin attracts tens of thousands of new residents every year, but the housing market cannot keep pace. The rent brake introduced in June 2015 attempts to slow rising asking rents. Still, finding affordable housing in sought after areas like Mitte or Neukoelln is becoming harder for many. Market data confirms that demand exceeds supply.
East-west gap at its narrowest
On a positive note, life satisfaction in Germany is rising overall. The east-west gap has narrowed to just 0.15 points, the smallest difference since reunification.
Putting the study in context
The Happiness Atlas draws on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and an Allensbach survey. About 26,000 people were interviewed out of more than 80 million residents in Germany. The study can identify trends, but happiness is subjective and difficult to generalise. Whether work, income, housing and leisure alone determine satisfaction remains an open question.
For the Berlin housing market, the result is still telling: the low rating for housing matches what tenants and property owners experience daily. The need for additional living space remains the central challenge for this growing city.