71% of Ukrainians consider themselves happy: level returns to pre-war figure — KMS survey

The Kyiv International Sociology Institute (KMS) has published the results of a new monitoring survey on the level of happiness among the population of Ukraine. According to the data collected in May 2026, 71% of respondents stated that they consider themselves happy, despite the ongoing full-scale war. At the same time, 16% of respondents called themselves unhappy, while the share of those who found it difficult to give a clear answer ("both yes and no") shrank to 11%. Thus, the number of happy Ukrainians is more than three times greater than the number of unhappy ones.

Dynamics over a year and a half: from 58% to 71%

KMS has been continuously monitoring citizens' subjective well-being for over 20 years, which allows for tracking long-term dynamics. In December 2024, when the war had already been in a full-scale conflict phase for more than two years, only 58% of Ukrainians considered themselves happy. By December 2025, the figure had risen to 69%, and in May 2026 it reached 71%. For comparison: in December 2021, two months before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the happiness level was also 71%. Thus, the population's subjective well-being has returned to the pre-war level. Meanwhile, the share of unhappy people remained virtually unchanged over the entire period — around 16% both in December 2024 and in May 2026. A significant shift occurred in the category of uncertain answers: from 25% to 11%, indicating that a substantial part of citizens moved from an ambivalent perception of their own lives to a more positive assessment.

Age, income and health: key determinants

Sociologists identify several factors most closely linked to the level of subjective happiness. Age shows an inverse correlation: among Ukrainians under 40, 75% consider themselves happy, whereas among people aged 70 and over this figure stands at 60%. Economic well-being also plays a defining role — among citizens with very low income, only 48% called themselves happy, while among the most affluent — 91%. A similar pattern is observed in terms of health: among those who rate their health as very poor or poor, the happiness level is around 50%, while among the healthiest — 91%. A separate factor is the understanding of the meaning of life: among those who cannot determine what it consists of, 41% called themselves happy, whereas among those who are aware of their life's path — 79%. KMS also notes the influence of education, the quality of family and intimate relationships, the presence of children and friends, the sense of security, and the assessment of the future.

Psychological adaptation or improved conditions?

The institute itself emphasizes that the study conducted does not allow for establishing the specific causes of the rise in the happiness level. One of the possible explanations cited by sociologists is psychological adaptation to a prolonged war: people gradually adjust to new living conditions, adjusting their own expectations and criteria for assessing well-being. At the same time, KMS particularly stresses that the growth in the subjective feeling of happiness does not mean that the objective living conditions of Ukrainians have become easier. The war continues, citizens still experience losses, threats to security, economic difficulties, and psychological strain. Thus, the recorded growth reflects rather an internal restructuring of perception than a change in external circumstances.

Contradictory data

During verification of the materials, a discrepancy in publication dates was found. The main body of data (RBC-Ukraine, Interfax, Novosti.UA) refers to a survey conducted in May 2026 and publishes the results in the current time window. However, a material on the ura-inform.com portal, containing similar figures, is dated 20 March 2026 — that is, before the May survey was conducted. This may indicate either an error in the publication date on that resource, or that it refers to preliminary or partially aggregated data presented earlier. The core of the statistics (71%, 69%, 58%) nonetheless matches across all sources, which allows the main conclusions to be considered confirmed, while the dating of one of the materials requires clarification.

Context: trust and anxiety amid the war

The happiness survey results fit into a broader context of public sentiment that KMS tracks in parallel. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the level of Ukrainians' trust in public figures varies significantly depending on their role during the war: the highest positions in the ratings are held by military personnel and representatives of the defense sector, while pronounced distrust persists toward some politicians. At the same time, sociologists note that in wartime conditions citizens increasingly worry about socio-economic problems and the country's future. Among the population's main fears were poverty, problems in the education system, and threats to the future of children. These data complement the picture: the growth in subjective happiness coexists with persistent anxiety about the long-term outlook.