Antrim and Newtownabbey scores high on happiness scale

The study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found residents in the borough were also some of the least anxious people in the province.

On a scale of zero to 10, Antrim and Newtownabbey folk rated 7.99, just shy of those in neighbouring Mid and East Antrim. Topping the list was Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Antrim and Newtownabbey also scored 2.28 on the anxiety scale, just ahead of lowest scoring Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Meanwhile, the borough was rated 8.39 for worthiness and 8.20 for life satifaction, taking second place in both categories.

Glenn Everett, ONS director of well-being, said: “We often talk of how the country is doing, usually in economic terms.

“These figures address how people are feeling about their lives.

“Overall, people are generally rating their lives higher than they did four years ago.

“But what is interesting is that they show a slight growth in inequality between people rating their lives highly and those reporting low levels of personal well-being.

“In other words, a growing inequality that policy makers need to consider.”