How the Poll Works
Researchers at Gallup conducted this poll a bit differently than you may expect. They reached out to different people in all countries to gauge how happy one is.
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They did so by telling them to imagine a ladder. Then, they said to think about one’s current life. How happy are they living? The top rung represents an amazing life at 10. Meanwhile, the bottom rung represents a terrible life at 0.
The Ladder Survey
Using this ladder imagery, researchers then asked participants to pick a number that they feel is where their current life is at. By using these responses, analysts were able to determine how happy people in various societies are around the world.
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This type of survey is how the Gallup World Poll was created. About 1,000 people are questioned in each country.
The Happiest Country in the World
Finland earned the number one spot for being the happiest country in the world. Many other Scandinavian countries were also listed incredibly high on the list. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark all got spots in the top 10.
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There are likely many reasons for these high rankings. Scandinavian countries always rank very high on this poll. Researchers say this is because these countries have social support and healthy lifestyles.
The United States’ Ranking
Unfortunately for Americans, the U.S. doesn’t rank very high. In fact, it even dropped from the last survey conducted. Now, the U.S. is no longer in the top 20 happiest countries in the world.
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Instead, the U.S. has only earned a spot in the 23rd place. The last time this survey was done, the U.S. was ranked 15th.
Older Americans
However, the Gallup poll also looked at how different generations are faring throughout the U.S. Various people of different age ranges were surveyed to see if there were any differences. There were.
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According to the survey’s data, Americans aged 60 or older reported they had high levels of well-being. They were happy. They liked their lives and looked at the ladder imagery positively. As a result, they ranked themselves high.
Younger Americans Aren’t Thrilled
The same can’t be said about the younger generations in the U.S. Younger Americans have declined when it comes to overall joy. They simply aren’t happy with their lives.
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“The report finds there’s a dramatic decrease in the self-reported well-being of people aged 30 and below,” editor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, the director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University, explained.
Why Young Americans Aren’t Happy
There are likely various reasons why younger Americans aren’t thrilled with the current state of their lives — or the world. Researchers have stated that the youth in the U.S. may feel more anxiety or displeasure over things like climate change or politics.
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These younger generations realize they will have to keep dealing with these issues for the rest of their lives. They may see things like climate change get much worse in their lifetimes. Older generations, meanwhile, don’t necessarily worry about having to deal with these situations.
Threatened U.S. Citizens
Normally, younger generations are happier than, say, middle-aged generations. This is because they are more positive about their futures, whereas middle-aged Americans may be dealing with stresses such as child care and mortgages.
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But now, this analysis can no longer be said. “People are hearing that the world is going to hell in a handbasket and the young especially are feeling more threatened by it,” John Helliwell, a co-author of this study, stated.
Why Older Americans Are Happy
Just as there are countless reasons for a younger American’s dissatisfaction, there are also various reasons for an older American’s complete happiness.
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Researchers attached to this study have explained that, on average, it’s natural to see people become happier as they get older. This is because they’re likely in a more secure stage of their life, especially when it comes to finances and careers.
The Youth Aren’t Happy Elsewhere, Either
The United States isn’t alone in having a dissatisfied younger generation. Many younger people in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe also saw a drop in happiness.
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Throughout North America, younger generations have dropped in overall satisfaction with their lives when compared to older adults, such as their middle-aged counterparts.
The Generational Divide
While many younger citizens in the U.S. are clearly not happy, many older ones are. In fact, the U.S. ranks in the top 10 for happiness for people aged 60 or older. This drastic divide between generations is notable.
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“We knew that a relationship existed between age and happiness, but the biggest surprise is that it is more nuanced than we previously thought, and it is changing,” Ilana Ron-Levey, the managing director at Gallup, said.