The criteria for happiness of people living near the limit of survival needs in diverse
cultural contexts allow us to understand the fundamental and universal or culturally
specific sources of human happiness. Twenty-five participants (11 men, 14 women)
from Maputo, Mozambique, M 37.36; SD 15.86 years old (19 to 80), reported a
per capita monthly household income between 143 and 1,000 Meticals (3.86 and 27.03
USD). Participants responded to (a) a semistructured interview about happiness, criteria
for happiness, positive and negative life events, and hopes and fears for the future and
(b) a structured interview about satisfaction in specific life domains and comparative
income. Only 16% of the participants reported being happy. Participants said that when
basic needs are not satisfied happiness is impossible. Overall, satisfaction with life in
specific domains was higher because of satisfaction in nonmaterial domains. The main
criteria for happiness were having basic living conditions, a job, and positive relation ships with family and neighbors. After survival needs were met, social, spiritual, and
personal aspects of life became important for subjective well-being. Satisfaction with
income was correlated with comparative income and not with objective income. Being
able to provide wedding and funeral ceremonies and having good relationships with
neighbors may be culturally specific criteria for happiness in Maputo. The breakup of
marital relationships, family abandonment, and spousal infidelity (reported mainly by
women) may be gender-specific sources of unhappiness in Maputo.
