W-1. Percentage of People Satisfied With Their Present Lives
1.Current Values
59.8% (2004)
2.Current Points (out of a perfect score of 100 by 2050)
60 points
Calculation method:
(Current value - minimum value) / (2050 target
value - minimum value) x 100
3. Explanation of Indicator
In a sustainable society, not only are
its members living within the limits of what the
natural environment allows, another goal is to
have more of its members realize an even higher
quality of life (pursuit of the greatest happiness
for the greatest number). In the fifty years since
the war, Japan has experienced an extraordinary
economic recovery, but this has come at the expense
of spiritual richness for many of its citizens.
We would like for each and every person to feel
a richness of spirit in the 21st century.
As the indicator for the extent of life satisfaction,
we have used the percentage of people who answered,
"I am satisfied" or "I am more
or less satisfied" when, as part of a "Public
Opinion Survey on Citizens' Lives ," they
were asked the question, "Overall, how satisfied
are you with your present life?"
4.Target for 2050
Approaching 100%
5.Ideal for the Future
Approaching 100%
6. Rationale for Ideal and Target Values
There may be no such thing, at the country
level, as everyone actually being satisfied, but
in keeping with the spirit of "the greatest
happiness for the greatest number", we have
set "approaching 100%" as the ideal,
as well as for the target value.
7. Source
The
Cabinet Office, "Public Opinion Survey on
Citizens' Lives "(Japanese only)
8. Notes
7.2% were "satisfied". 52.6%
were "more or less satisfied". Starting
in 2000 the questions changed slightly. There
are related surveys using qualitative data. The
Economist links quantitative data to a quality
of life ranking by country. there i
http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf