54% of Hungarians are happy or more often happy than unhappy, according to a representative survey* conducted by KOMETA 2025 in March, published on the occasion of the World Happiness Day on 20 March. Nearly six in ten Hungarians are aware that happiness is an internal work in progress, but one in ten Hungarians have given up on finding it. Three quarters of Hungarians believe that sharing meals together makes us happier. Good company is important, but good food is also the basis of Buona vita! A quarter of Hungarians are happy to cook delicious food for others, and a fifth are happy to plan a meal together. Those aged between 16 and 29 are most fulfilled by listening to music, while those over 30 enjoy watching films and TV series. Walking was in the top 10 for women and more active exercise for men.

Key findings from KOMETA’s World Happiness Day (20 March) research:

• the majority of Hungarians (54%) are happy or rather happy than unhappy
• the 16-29 age group (58%) and the 60+ age group (55%) are the happiest
• people in their 40s are the most unhappy (23%)
• half full, half empty: half of Hungarians try to find the good in everything
• three quarters of Hungarians say that eating together makes us happier, good food and company are important
• one in five Hungarians are already excited about planning a meal together
• nearly one in four Hungarians will be happy to cook delicious meals for others
• watching films and series makes us happiest
• women are happier walking, reading, playing games such as sudoku or crosswords and cooking for others
• men are more active in sports, cultural programmes, online games and hobbies

On the occasion of World Happiness Day on 20 March, KOMETA asked how happy we feel and what makes us feel happy. In a representative survey conducted in March 2025, 54 percent of Hungarians who took part in the survey were either very happy or had unhappy moments, but felt happy more often than unhappy. Three in ten (29%) are either half happy or half unhappy. The majority of the remainder are sometimes happy but more often unhappy. 4 per cent said they were unhappy. The survey reveals that the 16-29 age group is the most happy (58%), followed by the 60+ age group (55%). The 40s are the most unhappy, with almost one in four respondents admitting to being unhappy or unhappy more often than happy.

But do we strive for happiness or do we think we deserve it? 49% of Hungarians try to find the good in everything. According to the KOMETA survey, the majority (58%) believe that happiness is an internal work in progress. There are those who think so but nevertheless do not seek it (6%) and those who have sought it for a long time but have given up (10%).

A well-laid table is a source of happiness – company and food are important

Spending time with family and friends makes many people happy. 45% of Hungarians eat with family and friends at least once a day. Three quarters of respondents to the KOMETA survey think that eating together makes us happier. For one in two, both good company and good food are important. Shared meals are so filling, that one in five respondents feel energised just by planning a get-together with family and friends. The link between good food and happiness is also indicated by the fact that one in four Hungarians are happy when they can cook good food for others.

“I believe that good food is part of a good life. It’s no coincidence that we chose Buona vita! as our new slogan, which means good life in Hungarian. In addition to our close relationships with family, friends and hobbies, good food is also part of a good life. In fact, if we can eat well and talk well in company, we are happier,” says Giacomo Pedranzini, Managing Director of KOMETA.