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Kassel is Germany’s happiness capital – what makes the city so happy?
Kassel will remain Germany's happiest city in 2025 with a happiness index of 7.44. Life satisfaction in northern Hesse is increasing.
Kassel is Germany’s happiness capital – what makes the city so happy?
Kassel has done it again! The city on the Fulda was named the happiest city in Germany for the second time in a row in the SKL Happiness Atlas city ranking. So it's not surprising that Kassel's happiness index shines again this year with 7.44 points - a slight increase of 0.06 points compared to last year. Kassel leads the ranking, followed by Krefeld, Düsseldorf, Augsburg and Aachen. In the list worth living in, Frankfurt comes in at 35th place and Wiesbaden only at 39th place. HNA reports that...
What makes Kassel so special? The Happiness Atlas provides information: over 56% of Kassel residents say they are highly satisfied. Only a measly 3% are seriously dissatisfied. The younger population, which is remarkably well represented, also contributes significantly to these positive values. Bernd Raffelhüschen from the University of Freiburg emphasizes that the even distribution of life satisfaction is often crucial for the general well-being of a city, and this is exactly where the people of Kassel score points.
Attractive living conditions
Kassel offers a mix of good education, extensive health care and relaxing local recreation areas. The average commuting distance to work is only 10 kilometers - a value that only Freiburg can beat at 9.8 kilometers. It is important to mention that although Kassel has a high level of noise pollution from traffic, it is still at the forefront when it comes to life satisfaction. With more than 24,000 surveys conducted from 2022 to 2025, there is a positive trend in life satisfaction compared to the previous year. Die Zeit highlights that...
Despite the below-average values in areas such as infrastructure and economy, the people of Kassel can look forward to a high quality of life, which is not only reflected in the satisfaction of its citizens. The right conditions for a fulfilling life are what ensure Kassel takes first place in the city rankings. The mayor, Sven Schoeller, expresses his appreciation for the living conditions and the people in Kassel who shape the city.
Ranking at a glance
A look at the top ten city rankings shows that smaller cities often outpace the larger metropolises. Here are the most important results:
| rank | City | Happiness index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | kassel | 7.44 |
| 2 | Krefeld | 7.39 |
| 3 | Dusseldorf | 7.36 |
| 4 | augsburg | 7.33 |
| 5 | Aachen | 7.33 |
| 6 | Muenster | 7.24 |
| 7 | Dusseldorf | 7.36 |
| 8 | Hamburg | 7.21 |
| 9 | Krefeld | 7.39 |
| 10 | Erfurt | 7.27 |
Although larger cities such as Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich perform well in other categories, they present a rather bleak picture when it comes to life satisfaction. Frankfurt is only in 35th place, while Wiesbaden is also not doing well with 39 points. Interestingly, Rostock is at the bottom of the table.
The good news for Kassel is another sign that the city with its special advantages will continue to attract people and make them happy in the future. SKL notes that...