The old adage, money can't buy happiness has been proved by a survey which shows that in Beijing at least the more people earn, the less happier they feel.

The Beijing Social Facts and Public Opinion Survey Center in July polled 7,118 residents between the ages of 18 and 70 in the 18 districts and counties in China's capital.

Interviewees were asked to score their sense of happiness in life, and 31.6 percent gave their happiness over 90 points. Just over seven percent rated their happiness below 60.

Yu Xiuqin, vice director general with the Beijing Statistics Bureau, explained that people with higher incomes face more pressure and greater challenges in life and they sometimes feel exhausted and less happy.

People living on the outskirts of Beijing generally feel happier than citizens living downtown even though incomes of the latter are higher on average.

The survey shows happiness also varies with age. Young people and the elderly tend to be more easily satisfied than middle-aged people.

People between 36 and 55 were found to be the least happy.

"They are the backbones of families and face pressure from all sides--jobs, health, aging, providing education for their children," said Yu Xiuqin.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2006)