Money and Happiness: Exploring the South African Perspective

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, indicators, statistics, and policy ideas related to money and happiness in South Africa as discussed in the lecture notes.

World Happiness Report

Annual UN-backed publication ranking countries’ well-being using economic, social, and health indicators.

Cantril Ladder

Survey tool where people rate current life satisfaction from 0 (worst) to 10 (best).

GDP per capita

Economic prosperity indicator; average income per person used in happiness rankings.

Social support

Measure of having someone to rely on in times of need; key happiness factor.

Healthy life expectancy

Average years people live in good health; contributes to national well-being scores.

Freedom to make life choices

Extent to which individuals feel free to decide how to live their lives.

Generosity

Level of charitable behavior and willingness to help others in society.

Perceptions of corruption

Public trust in government and business integrity; lower corruption boosts happiness.

South Africa’s 2025 Happiness Rank

Placed 95th out of 147 countries in the 2025 World Happiness Report.

Positive emotions in South Africa

71.7 % of citizens reported positive feelings, ranking 46th globally.

Negative emotions in South Africa

24.5 % reported negative feelings, placing 56th worldwide.

Finland’s happiness status

Ranked happiest country for the 8th straight year with a score of 7.736.

Afghanistan’s happiness status

Ranked least happy nation, largely due to conflict and instability.

Basic needs and security

Income that ensures food, shelter, healthcare, and education—strongly boosts happiness at low incomes.

Diminishing returns of income

Beyond a threshold, extra money adds little to happiness compared to non-material factors.

Dual role of money

Provides essential security but becomes less influential on happiness once basics are met.

Economic inclusion

Policies reducing inequality and creating jobs to uplift marginalized groups.

Strengthening institutions

Reducing corruption and improving governance to increase public trust and life satisfaction.

Generosity & volunteering

Acts of kindness that raise happiness for both givers and recipients.

Personal autonomy

Empowerment to make free life choices, strongly linked to higher well-being.