71% of Ukrainians consider themselves happy despite the war
71% of Ukrainians said they generally consider themselves happy, despite the full-scale war. These survey results were released by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
The survey was conducted from May 7 to June 3, 2026, with 2,007 respondents. Thirty-one percent of participants said they were definitely happy, while another 40% answered “more likely yes than no.” At the same time, 11% were unable to decide definitively, and 16% described themselves as unhappy or somewhat unhappy.
Levels of happiness vary depending on age and financial status. Among people under 40, 75% consider themselves happy, while among Ukrainians aged 70 and older, the figure is 60%.
The most affluent respondents are significantly more likely to describe themselves as happy—91%. Among the least affluent, this figure stands at 48%.
Health and a sense of purpose in life also influence feelings of happiness. Among those who see a sense of purpose in their lives, 79% of respondents describe themselves as happy, whereas among those who do not see such a sense of purpose, the figure is 41%.
The KMIS notes that an increase in happiness levels does not automatically mean an improvement in objective living conditions. Sociologists attribute this trend primarily to psychological adaptation to the war—people are adjusting their expectations and criteria for evaluating life, which allows them to feel happy again even under difficult circumstances.
The figure remained relatively stable until December 2023. Throughout 2024, it dropped from approximately 62% to 58%.
After that, the level of happiness began to recover: in December 2024, 58% of Ukrainians considered themselves happy; in December 2025, 69%; and in May 2026, 71%.
Thus, the indicator has effectively returned to the level seen in December 2021, when, on the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion, 71% of Ukrainians also described themselves as happy.
Source: Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS)
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