Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 17) — Filipinos had been least happy and satisfied with life in 2018 compared to previous years, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of a national survey conducted in December showed only 87 percent of Filipinos considered their lives as "very or fairly happy," a seven-point decline from 94 percent score in 2018. The happiness rating is also the lowest by respondents since December 2014, which scored 85 percent.

Respondents were asked to rate their lives from "very happy" to "not at all happy," and 39 percent answered the former while 2 percent said the latter. The survey showed 48 percent said they were "fairly happy" and 11 percent said they were "not very happy."

The survey found that happiness declined in all areas. In Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, all points have suffered a drop from 2017.

Happiness was highest in Mindanao with 89 percent, a drop from 96 percent in December 2017, and lowest in Metro Manila with 82 percent, down from its 90 percent rating the previous year.

SWS also measured Filipinos' satisfaction with their lives, noting that satisfaction figures have also declined to their lowest in four years. Results showed 82 percent of Filipinos are "very or fairly satisfied" with their lives, the lowest rating since September 2014 with 79 percent.

The survey was conducted from December 16 to 19, 2018 through face-to-face interviews with 1,440 respondents nationwide. It has sampling error margins of ±2.6 percent for national percentages, and ±5 percent each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.