JOIN OUR TEAM AS HAPPY CITY INDEX RESEARCHER
Our office is based in London, but it’s just an address. Our team operates virtually, likely spanning every time zone in the world, as all individuals involved with the Happy City Index work remotely. We all work as volunteers too, treating the Happy City Index as an important social project.
If you’d like to help us create the next edition of the Happy City Index, you can join our team as a Happy City Index Researcher and it is a Volunteer Opportunity.
Every year in September, we begin preparing the next edition of the Happy City Index. Over 200 people contribute to data collection. In the first phase, we analyse data from over 1,200 cities and narrow this down to around 500. The key requirement is the availability of open data, statistical yearbooks, or trustworthy databases from which we can gather information. We then conduct an in-depth analysis of these 500 cities, selecting 200-250 to feature in the Happy City Index. We involve and invite Happy City Researchers to participate in this process. These individuals help collect all the necessary data. Today, the index is considered one of the world’s most reliable resources for assessing the functioning of cities, thanks to our thorough collection and comparison of detailed data from numerous cities.
Everyone involved in creating the index works voluntarily, whether they are Researchers, coordinators, or taking on other roles. It’s a collaborative effort by many people, and it’s quite comprehensive.
As a Happy City Index Researcher, your task will be to collect data on a particular city or cities in selected countries. The level of commitment is entirely up to you, depending on how much you want to contribute. This could range from focusing on a single city in one country to gathering data for all cities within one country (usually around eight), or even for all cities across several countries.
Happy City Researchers are granted access to a platform where they input data about the specific city, such as unemployment rates, along with sources for the data (link).
Obtaining data on a specific city and some of the indicators is often a quick process, but sometimes it requires more detailed research, so it’s hard to estimate the time needed. We assume that analysing one city could take anywhere from a few to several hours. It’s also important to note that some indicators are specific to cities (like the mentioned unemployment rate), while others are relevant to the entire country (such as the number of patents). National data is collected by other individuals, so the Happy City Index Researcher generally analyses around 60 city-specific indicators. The full list of indicators is available on the Happy City Index website, although next year’s indicators may be slightly updated.
SUMMARY:
Volunteer Opportunity: Happy City Index Researcher
Location: Remote (Happy City Hub Ltd, London)
Are you passionate about urban development and quality of life? Join our global team as a Volunteer Happy City Index Researcher and contribute to a project that evaluates and enhances urban living standards worldwide.
About Us:
The Happy City Index is a community-driven initiative that emphasises the importance of residents in shaping urban policies. For the past five years, we have assessed cities based on 82 indicators across 26 different areas of city activity and 5 core thematic areas: CITIZENS, GOVERNANCE, ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, HEALTH and MOBILITY. The results are published on the International Day of Happiness, 20 March.
The Happy City Index is managed by Happy City Hub Ltd, a UK entity dedicated to working on behalf of cities. It also oversees the Institute for Quality of Life – a project focused on studying city living standards and publishing the Happy City Index results. To learn more about these organisations and the study, visit www.happy-city-index.com and www.institute-ql.com.
Role Overview:
As a Happy City Index Researcher, you’ll play a vital role in collecting and entering data for the sixth edition of the index. Your main responsibilities will include:
- Data Collection: Research and gather data on selected cities according to our established indicators.
- Data Entry: Precisely input the collected data into our system, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.
- Collaboration: Work remotely with a global team of over 250 volunteers, collaborating to maintain the highest data quality standards.
What We Offer:
- Position Title: Happy City Index Researcher
- Certificate: An official certificate recognising your contribution to the Happy City Index.
- Reference: A reference letter confirming your work and commitment.
- Event Invitation: An invitation to the online announcement of the 2026 index results in March 2026.
Commitment:
This volunteer position involves data collection from November 2025 to January 2026. While our headquarters are based in London, all activities are carried out remotely, allowing you to participate from anywhere.
How to Apply:
If you’re eager to contribute to this meaningful project and have the necessary skills and enthusiasm, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us to discuss how you can join this exciting initiative.
For more details, visit our websites: www.happy-city-index.com and www.institute-ql.com.
Contact Us:
Please send your expression of interest or any questions to [email protected].
Join us in making cities better places to live and help us celebrate the International Day of Happiness with an index that showcases the best in urban living!
If you’d like to help us create the next edition of the Happy City Index, you can join our team as a Happy City Index Researcher and it is a Volunteer Opportunity.
Every year in September, we begin preparing the next edition of the Happy City Index. Over 200 people contribute to data collection. In the first phase, we analyse data from over 1,200 cities and narrow this down to around 500. The key requirement is the availability of open data, statistical yearbooks, or trustworthy databases from which we can gather information. We then conduct an in-depth analysis of these 500 cities, selecting 200-250 to feature in the Happy City Index. We involve and invite Happy City Researchers to participate in this process. These individuals help collect all the necessary data. Today, the index is considered one of the world’s most reliable resources for assessing the functioning of cities, thanks to our thorough collection and comparison of detailed data from numerous cities.
Everyone involved in creating the index works voluntarily, whether they are Researchers, coordinators, or taking on other roles. It’s a collaborative effort by many people, and it’s quite comprehensive.
As a Happy City Index Researcher, your task will be to collect data on a particular city or cities in selected countries. The level of commitment is entirely up to you, depending on how much you want to contribute. This could range from focusing on a single city in one country to gathering data for all cities within one country (usually around eight), or even for all cities across several countries.
Happy City Researchers are granted access to a platform where they input data about the specific city, such as unemployment rates, along with sources for the data (link).
Obtaining data on a specific city and some of the indicators is often a quick process, but sometimes it requires more detailed research, so it’s hard to estimate the time needed. We assume that analysing one city could take anywhere from a few to several hours. It’s also important to note that some indicators are specific to cities (like the mentioned unemployment rate), while others are relevant to the entire country (such as the number of patents). National data is collected by other individuals, so the Happy City Index Researcher generally analyses around 60 city-specific indicators. The full list of indicators is available on the Happy City Index website, although next year’s indicators may be slightly updated.
SUMMARY:
Volunteer Opportunity: Happy City Index Researcher
Location: Remote (Happy City Hub Ltd, London)
Are you passionate about urban development and quality of life? Join our global team as a Volunteer Happy City Index Researcher and contribute to a project that evaluates and enhances urban living standards worldwide.
About Us:
The Happy City Index is a community-driven initiative that emphasises the importance of residents in shaping urban policies. For the past five years, we have assessed cities based on 82 indicators across 26 different areas of city activity and 5 core thematic areas: CITIZENS, GOVERNANCE, ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY, HEALTH and MOBILITY. The results are published on the International Day of Happiness, 20 March.
The Happy City Index is managed by Happy City Hub Ltd, a UK entity dedicated to working on behalf of cities. It also oversees the Institute for Quality of Life – a project focused on studying city living standards and publishing the Happy City Index results. To learn more about these organisations and the study, visit www.happy-city-index.com and www.institute-ql.com.
Role Overview:
As a Happy City Index Researcher, you’ll play a vital role in collecting and entering data for the sixth edition of the index. Your main responsibilities will include:
- Data Collection: Research and gather data on selected cities according to our established indicators.
- Data Entry: Precisely input the collected data into our system, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.
- Collaboration: Work remotely with a global team of over 250 volunteers, collaborating to maintain the highest data quality standards.
What We Offer:
- Position Title: Happy City Index Researcher
- Certificate: An official certificate recognising your contribution to the Happy City Index.
- Reference: A reference letter confirming your work and commitment.
- Event Invitation: An invitation to the online announcement of the 2026 index results in March 2026.
Commitment:
This volunteer position involves data collection from November 2025 to January 2026. While our headquarters are based in London, all activities are carried out remotely, allowing you to participate from anywhere.
How to Apply:
If you’re eager to contribute to this meaningful project and have the necessary skills and enthusiasm, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us to discuss how you can join this exciting initiative.
For more details, visit our websites: www.happy-city-index.com and www.institute-ql.com.
Contact Us:
Please send your expression of interest or any questions to [email protected].
Join us in making cities better places to live and help us celebrate the International Day of Happiness with an index that showcases the best in urban living!