Abstract
The quality of people’s lives depends not only on what they do, but also on what happens in society as a whole and how it affects people in different places. It has been rightly proved that the main goal and criterion of public policy is to promote the happiness of people. In recent decades, many scientists have proved that the main goal and measure of state policy is to promote the happiness of people. This article is devoted to the study of the level of happiness of the inhabitants of Kazakhstan in the years after gaining independence as a result of three stages of modernization. An overview of research on happi- ness in Kazakhstan is provided. Based on the World Database of Happiness database, the trend of the average level of happiness of Kazakhstanis from 2000-2020 is considered. A comparative analysis with other countries was carried out, the components of happiness in Kazakhstan and the inequality of hap- piness, factors affecting happiness were considered. Despite the fact that the level of happiness of the inhabitants of Kazakhstan is below average compared to other countries of the world, it shows a high level among the countries of Asia and the post-Soviet countries. The model of happiness of Kazakhstanis differs from other countries, and there are differences in the significance of factors affecting the happiness of Kazakhstanis. The increase in the average level of happiness in Kazakhstan indicates that the periods of modernization carried out in the country have benefited the population and affected their level of satisfaction with life. In general, the increase in the average level of happiness in Kazakhstan indicates that the reforms in the country benefited the population and affected their level of satisfaction with life. Key words: stages of modernization, level of happiness, quality of life, subjective well-being, world ranking, comparative analysis.