Islington is the unhappiest borough in London – according to a recent survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

As well as being unhappy the study shows that those living in the borough have the highest anxiety levels in the capital and the lowest feelings of worth.

ONS also found that London had the lowest average rating of satisfaction in the UK at 7.3, compared to the national average of 7.5.

The data comes from the Annual Population Survey from April 2012 to March 2013, and includes responses from around 165,000 people, around 370 of whom were interviewed in Islington.

Terry Stacy, Islington Liberal Democrat leader, said: “Despite all the popular media images of Islington being a healthy and wealthy place, these figures show the reality is very different.

“It is deeply worrying that Islington residents feel so badly about where they live and life in general.

“Having the highest population density in the land, some of the least amount of open space, high housing costs and high crime rates, such as street robberies, may well play a part though.

“The borough’s leaders need to take a long, hard look at how to turn this around.”

Residents of Islington rated their happiness levels at 6.85, compared to 7.02 in Hackney and 7.5 in Kensington and Chelsea, London’s happiest borough.

Janet Burgess, deputy leader and executive member for health and wellbeing, said the results were to be expected.

She said: “Obviously it’s disappointing but I don’t think we were altogether surprised given the way that the most deprived people have been the hardest hit by the government.

“I understand why people find it stressful living in the city. We’re certainly doing our best.

“Things like the bedroom tax have hit people in the most crowded areas, as well as the changes to disability benefits.

“The anxiety this causes to people is enormous. Perhaps the Lib Dems would like to go and talk to their friends in government about it.”