Regrettably, the United States has slipped from its position as one of the top 20 happiest countries in the world, according to recent statistics from Gallup and affiliated organizations.
The 2024 World Happiness Report revealed that the U.S. has fallen out of the top 20 for the first time in the 12-year history of the study. The U.S. sits at No. 23, a drop from No. 15 during the previous year. This downturn appears to be influenced partly by a less favorable outlook on life among Americans under 30.
“Happiness or perceived wellbeing has reduced in all age brackets in the US, but the decrease is especially noticeable among younger adults,” commented Gallup managing director Ilana Ron Levey in an email to CBS News. Levey added that varying degrees of social connection contribute to the observed differences in happiness across generations.
“There’s a pinnacle of loneliness among younger Americans,” Levey explained. “Common wisdom acknowledges that social support and loneliness significantly impact overall happiness. These aspects function differently among various ages.”
Finland took the No. 1 spot in the overall list of the world’s happiest countries for the seventh consecutive year. However, Lithuania leads for those under 30, whereas Denmark tops the charts for those over 60.
Defining differences exist in the way younger and older population segments perceive life satisfaction. While those over 60 in the U.S. and Canada rank at least 50 spots higher than those under 30, younger individuals in Central and Eastern Europe reported higher life satisfaction than their seniors. Responding to more than 140 countries’ feedback, the study ranks nations by citizens’ overall life satisfaction.
Afghanistan remains at the end of the world happiness ranking. Researchers ranking the world’s “happiest” countries use public evaluation of overall life contentment. Comparisons between countries also factor in the average healthy lifespan, GDP per capita, corruption levels, social support, generosity, and freedom.
The researchers noted a decline in happiness among 15- to 24-year-olds in North America, Western Europe, the Middle East/North Africa, and South Asia since 2019. Particularly concerning are drastic drops in wellbeing among youth in North America and Western Europe, commented Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford and one of the report’s editors.
The World Happiness Report was published in conjunction with International Day of Happiness on March 20. The publication is a collaboration between Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the WHR’s Editorial Board.
