Happy City Index Researcher — #2026 Edition
Help assess and improve city living standards around the world.
About the initiative
The Happy City Index is a community-driven study evaluating cities using 82 indicators across 26 areas grouped into six themes: Citizens, Governance, Environment, Economy, Health and Mobility. Results are released each year on the International Day of Happiness (20 March).
It’s a collaboration between Happy City Hub (London) and the Institute for Quality of Life / Institut pour la Qualité de Vie (Paris).
What the role involves
One city, in depth. You’ll be matched to a single city (taking your country preference into account) and explore it in detail against our indicators.
- Data collection: find reliable, comparable figures for your city and record the source.
- Data entry: use our secure web platform to input values and cite sources; simple, structured fields throughout.
- Quality check: during Dec–Feb you may be asked to verify ~10 randomly selected data points collected by peers (each from a different city).
What you’ll get
- Official certificate acknowledging your contribution as #2026HappyCityIndex Researcher.
- Experience contributing to one of the most comprehensive, comparative studies of urban wellbeing.
How to join
Apply via our short form. We’ll review your details (usually within five days), then confirm your city assignment and send your login plus training materials.
We welcome volunteers from all over the world.