Almost two-thirds of the population are happy with life in Bermuda but half of white voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going, according to a survey.

An independent opinion poll for The Royal Gazette found that 60.7 percent of people were satisfied with the current state of affairs on the Island; 32.6 percent were dissatisfied; and 6.7 percent were undecided.

The number of residents satisfied with the way things are going has risen by 50 percent since November — when Dr. Ewart Brown became Premier. However, among white voters, the sense of dissatisfaction has increased from 41 percent to 52.3 percent.

The survey revealed that black voters are more positive about the ways things are going, with 75.6 percent expressing satisfaction. This is up from 48 percent six months ago.

Among whites however, there was a less positive outlook with only 38.5 percent saying they were happy.

On Friday, The Royal Gazette>published poll results which showed a growing gap between black and white voters, with support for the Government among blacks up by 36 percent in just two months.

The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) is attracting 62.9 percent of the black vote, with only 9.5 percent supporting the United Bermuda Party. In contrast, among white voters only 1.6 percent favour the PLP and 64.1 percent are pro-UBP.

The survey results suggest Government policies may be isolating white voters but appealing to the black population.

However the 'feel good factor' is generally high on the Island, up from 40 percent of residents expressing satisfaction in November to the current 60.7 percent.

Those unhappy with the way things are going has dropped from 50 percent — half of the population — in October, to a third.

Men were more positive than women, with 74.3 percent of men satisfied, compared to 49.1 percent of women.

The younger generation was also happier about life on the Island, with 77 percent of 18-35-year-olds saying they were satisfied. Among 36-54-year-olds the figure was 64.9 percent, and 40.6 percent for the over-55s.

Among the older generation, a greater percentage were unhappy about the way things are going, at 45.3 percent.

The survey however, also revealed that confidence in the Island's economy is booming, with eight out of ten describing it as either 'good' or 'excellent'. Three months ago, the figure was six out of ten.

The number of residents rating the economy as 'excellent' has more than doubled in the past six months, from 9 percent in November to the current 20.2 percent. Only 5.2 percent say the economy is in a 'poor' state — half of that in February, when the figure was 11 percent.

In January it was revealed residents in Bermuda have the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the world. The Island's total GDP was estimated at $4.857 billion — $76,403 per head, compared to $10,000 in Luxembourg. The figure for the US was $41,600, Canada $33,900, and the UK $30,100.

Asked to rate economic conditions in Bermuda, a fifth of people said they were 'excellent'; 61.2 percent rated them as 'good'; 13.3 percent as 'fair'; and 5.2 percent as 'poor'.

Up to 57.1 percent thought the economy was moving in the right direction, but a quarter of the population — 26.3 percent — said it was heading the wrong way.

While 71.5 percent of black voters had a positive outlook on Bermuda's economy, only 39.8 percent of white voters agreed — 45.3 percent said it was moving in the wrong direction.

Six months ago, this figure was just 17 percent, with 44 percent of whites saying the economy was on a firm footing.

The number of black voters who had faith in the economy in November was 61 percent. The figures therefore reveal a growing racial gap over the direction the economy is heading in.

This survey was conducted by Research Innovations from a sample of 405 people between May 20-22. The margin of error was 4.9 percent.