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Office of National Statistics show happiness and satisfaction in Kent is on the rise.

00:00, 23 September 2015

updated: 12:24, 23 September 2015

According to figures released today, the people of Kent are happier and more satisfied with their lives now than they were three years ago.

On average, our overall happiness rating is 7.46 out of 10 - which is considered high - compared to between 2011 and 2012 when it was 7.4.

But the people of Gravesham have come out on top, as the town is crowned the happy hotspot of the county.

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Gravesham is home to the happiest people in Kent
Gravesham is home to the happiest people in Kent

The wellbeing study by the Office of National Statistics revealed Kent residents rate their happiness at an average of 7.77 out of 10.

The scale ranges from zero to 10, with the lowest meaning not at all and the highest meaning completely happy.

Those taking the survey were asked how happy they had felt the previous day, with the people of Dover scoring 7.03, making them the least-happy in Kent and the fourth least-happy in the UK.

How happy are you?
How happy are you?

Canterbury people have been named the tenth least-happy in the UK.

The second most smiley place - closely following Gravesham - was Maidstone, with an average score of 7.75 out of 10.

Alongside happiness, other aspects of wellbeing measured were anxiety and life satisfaction.

From April 2014 to March 2015, the people of Kent ranked their anxiety levels at 2.63 out of 10, which is considered low.

Those with the highest levels of anxiety live in Thanet, rating their levels 2.94 out of 10.

The results also show that the people of Kent are fairly satisfied with their lives, hitting a score of 7.72.

But the people of Dover are less satisfied, ranking their levels at 7.37 out of 10.

The average UK score for happiness is 7.46, which is the same number for Kent.

Fermanagh and Omagh, in Northern Ireland, is home to the happiest people with a score of 8.26, while Bolsover, in Derbyshire, is the most-miserable place with a rating of 6.89.

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